EARTH SCIENCES AND PUBLIC HEALTH

Geology, perceived as the study of rocks, their origins, attributes, distribution and recorders of the history of life, has broadened. Atmospheric, hydrologic, soil and biological scientists in addition to geochemists/geophysicists today actively research the continuum between the environment and all life forms from microbes to humans.

Multidisciplinary efforts combining the data on earth materials and processes with epidemiologic data from medical/dental and public health sources use GIS in attempts to relate cause and effect. Models to evaluate risks in exposed populations rely on accurate geo- and bio-sampling, especially the spatial distributions, nontrivial and expensive undertakings for any site or hazard. To understand the salient factors leading to disease prevention, global communication of collaborative integrated research data will be required, the ultimate goal of geomedicine.