MEDICAL GEOLOGY: A 10,000 YEAR-OLD OPPORTUNITY

The impact on human health by natural materials such as water, rocks, and minerals has been known for thousands of years. The ancient Greeks described the harmful effects of various minerals and trace elements and ancient Chinese pharmacopoeia described the health benefits of numerous minerals. These early efforts were rarely followed by systematic multidisciplinary studies on the relationship between geologic materials and processes and human health. However, in the past few years there has been a resurgence of interest in Medical Geology. Geoscientists working with medical researchers and public health scientists have made important contributions to understanding novel exposure pathways and causes of a wide range of environmental health problems such as: arsenism and fluorosis in China caused by drying crops over unvented stoves using high-arsenic coals and high-fluorine briquettes; the potential health impacts of intercontinental dust; the contribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons leached from the lignite aquifers to kidney disease in the Balkans; the cause of respiratory problems that has devastated the town of Libby, MT where vermiculte was being mined; and the role of earthquakes in contributing to Valley Fever, a potentially severe health problem caused by fungi. By using our knowledge of geology, analytical tools, and geoscience databases, geoscientists are finally taking advantage of this age-old opportunity to help mitigate environmental health problems.