1 News Reports News Reports 1

Moreover, Bob and Jose had developed a popular short course on the health impacts of The Medical Geology revolution—The trace elements and metal ions that was easily modified to suit the objectives of the IUGS evolution of an IUGS initiative Medical Geology Working Group. Bob Finkelman and Jose Centeno pre- sented a one-day short course at the 2001 Introduction a descriptor of this environmental health sub- COGEOENVIRONMENT meeting in In December 2003 Episodes published an discipline. The next meeting of the Working Lusaka, Zambia followed by a one-day ses- article entitled “Medical Geology: New Rel- Group took the form as a workshop in Upp- sion at the nearby University of Zambia. The evance in the Earth Sciences” by Bowman, sala, Sweden in 1998. Discussions focused excitement generated at both venues was a Bobrowski, and Selinus. This paper was just on the feasibility of preparing a new textbook convincing demonstration that the medical one early example of the interest and excite- on medical geology. In September 2000, geology short course would be a powerful ment sparked by this emerging field of med- about 50 people participated in a meeting and tool with which to advance the objectives of ical geology—the impacts of geologic mate- workshop again in Uppsala. A two-day sem- the IUGS Working Group. A proposal was rials and geologic processes on animal and inar was held on medical geology “The Geo- then developed to bring this short course to human health. Medical geology attempts to chemical Environment and Human Health” developing countries having critical medical bring together geoscientists and biomed- resulting in a proceedings volume (Skinner geology problems. The proposal was submit- ical/public health researchers to address a and Berger 2002). The workshop participants ted to the International Commission on Sci- range of environmental health problems. discussed the future work of the group, entific Unions (ICSU) providing a $50,000 Much of the impetus for the resurgance of newsletters, an internet home page, generat- grant to support a small number of medical interest in medical geology was a direct ing other informational material, and pub- geology short courses for 2002–2003. This result of support and encouragement from lishing an interdisciplinary book on medical was the first ICSU grant awarded for any the International Union of Geological Sci- geology for a broad multidiciplinary audi- IUGS activitity. ences (IUGS) and its former Commission on ence. As a result of its significant achieve- Geologic Sciences for Environmental Plan- In 2000 the International Geologic Cor- ments, the COGEOENVIRONMENT Work- ning (COGEOENVIRONMENT). This man- relations Programme (IGCP) established a ing Group on Medical Geology was given uscript will review the recent evolution of new project “IGCP 454 Medical Geology”. Special Project status in March 2002 to oper- medical geology, from its initial insertion as IGCP projects are jointly sponsored by ate directly under the IUGS. a COGEOENVIRONMENT Working UNESCO (United Nations Education, Scien- Group to its current status as a global Associ- tific and Cultural Organization) and IUGS. Medical geology short ation with thousands of proponents world- The IGCP 454 project was chaired by Olle courses—spreading the message wide. We will also briefly speculate about Selinus with co-chairs Peter Bobrowsky With the support of IUGS, COGEOENVI- the future of this exciting new field stimu- (Canada) and Ed Derbyshire (UK). The pri- RONMENT, USGS, AFIP, SGU, and the lated by the IUGS. mary aim of the IGCP project was to bring host countries, the ICSU money was used to together scientists in developing countries fund many more short courses than had been A brief history working on medical geology issues with their proposed. (Figure 1–2) These courses led by Although geologic factors play key roles in a colleagues in other parts of the world. The range of environmental health issues that project focused on capacity building, provid- impact the health and well-being of billions ing training as well as exchange of informa- of people worldwide (Bowman et al., 2003) tion, research and laboratory experiences. there is a general lack of understanding of the This initiative provided, for the first time, the importance of these factors on animal and opportunity for scientists (geoscientists, human health amongt the general public, the physicians, geographers, veterinarians, etc.) biomedical/public health community, and from developed and developing countries to even within the geoscience community. The come together in a truly international and limited extend of interdisciplinary coopera- inter-disciplinary forum (geoscientists, tion and communication among these area physicians, veterinarians, etc.) and to iden- has restricted the ability of scientists and tify and tackle significant environmental public health workers to solve a range of health problems. compelx environmental health problems. In In 2000, Bob Finkelman, a geoscientist Figure 1 Short course in Brazil. response to this situation, in 1996 the IUGS then with the U.S. Geological Survey commission COGEOENVIRONMENT (USGS) and Jose Centeno, a chemical toxi- Jose Centeno, Bob Finkelman and Olle Seli- established an International Working Group cologist with the U.S. Armed Forces Institute nus have been presented at 32 occasions all on Medical Geology led by Olle Selinus of of Pathology (AFIP) joined the COGEOEN- over the world (see list below) and have been the Geological Survey of Sweden (SGU). VIRONMENT Working Group and the attended by more than two thousand stu- The primary aim of the Medical Geology IGCP 454 project. Since 1996 Jose and Bob dents and professionals with backgrounds in Working Group was to increase the aware- had been working independently on medical geoscience, biomedical/public health sci- ness of this issue among geoscientists, med- geology on issues that parallelled and com- ence, enviromental science, geography, engi- ical specialists, and the general public. plemented the objectives of the IUGS sup- neering, chemistry, etc. As part of the scien- Since the establishment of the ported activities. Their work on arsenic tific program for these short courses local COGEOENVIRONMENT Working Group (Centeno et al., 2002 a and b, Tchounwou et scientists are invited to describe medical on Medical Geology in 1996 there has been al., 2003, and fluorine poisoning from resi- geology work going on in their regions and rapid development of this field. In October dential coal combustion (Belkin et al., 1977 in some courses students were encouraged to 1997 the Working Group met in Vale, Col- and 2003, Wang et al., 2004), in China and present their work as posters. orado, USA during the Fourth International Balkan Endemic Nephropathy (Feder et al., The aim of the short courses is to share Symposium on Environmental Geochem- 1991, Orem et al., 1999, Tatu et al., 1998) the most recent information on the relation- istry. At this meeting the term “Medical had attracted much positive attention ship between toxic metal ions, trace ele- Geology” was adopted by the participants as (Finkelman et al., 2001 and a note in the Feb- ments, minerals, etc. and their impact on the ruary, 2002 issue of Scientific America). environmental and public health issues. The

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Medical Geology—A • A book, Geology to Health, published by Global Affair Oxford University Press, covered all the One of the first activi- presentations given at the meeting in Upp- ties of the IUGS Med- sala in 2000 (Skinner, Berger 2000). ical Geology Working • A first special issue of Environmental Geo- Group was to establish chemistry and Health devoted to medical and maintain communi- geology activities in developing countries cations with an audi- has been published (Vol. 29, No.2) and a ence dispersed through- second special issue is in preparation. out the world, many sci- • Special issue of the journal AMBIO (Vol- entists in developing ume 36(1), February 2007) published a countries with limited series of papers on medical geology. access to communica- • Special issue of BRGM Geosciences, vol 5 tion capabilities. The (March 2007), dedicated to geosciences Working Group estab- and health published a series or papers on Figure 2 Short course in Egypt. lished a Medical Geol- medical geology ogy web site • For additional publications of the IUGS scientific topics of the course include envi- (http://www.medicalgeology.org). This web- Medical Geology Working Group see the ronmental toxicology, environmental pathol- site is regularly updated and is a key source reference list at the end of this article. ogy, geochemistry, geoenvironmental epi- of information on the subject. The Working (Berger et al 2001, Bunnell 2004, Ceruti et demiology, extent, patterns and conse- Group also produces a newsletter twice a al 2001, Dissanayake 2004, Kinniburgh, quences of exposures to toxic metal ions, and year edited by Dave Elliott, from Canada. Smedley 2001, Kousa et al 2004, Selinus analysis of geologic and biologic materials. The newsletter is distributed to all members 2004). The courses, generally 2 to 3 days in of the working group. Currently, all issues of length, are intended for anyone interested in the newsletter can be accessed by visiting the For the first time there was a paper on the effects of natural materials and natural Medical Geology web site. medical geology in Scientific American. This geological events on animal and human Nearly 1,000 people signed up as corre- was published in February 2002, covering health. An important objective of the courses sponding members of the Medical Geology health effects of coal burning. Bob Finkel- is to provide an opportunity for forming con- Working Group from more than 90 countries man was active in this. tacts and networks between professionals around the globe. Recently, two books on Medical Geol- working in different countries and on differ- ogy have been published, one from India ent aspects of environmental health issues. Publications (Workshop on Medical Geology 2004) and We have produced a 300 page syllabus and a Information and news on the working group the other from Brazil (Roberto da Silva et al., CD containing the lecture materials used in has been published in different journals. The 2006). They are based on medical geology the short course as well as supplementary November, 2001 issue of Geotimes featured meetings in these countries and cover all material such as reprints of relevant articles the growing area of Geosciences and Human aspects of medical geology in South America for participants to use in their regions and on Health and contained several articles and the Indian subcontinent. their respective discplines. The use of the authored by members of the IUGS Medical Symposia and congresses course material by participants to conduct Geology Working Group (Finkelman et al their own regional courses in medical geol- 2001). The working group and IGCP project has ogy is highly encouraged. (Figure 3) Several papers and special journal been involved in promoting medical geology issues have also been published, drawing at meetings around the world by organizing national and international attention to med- and/or sponsoring special sessions or sym- ical geology. Some key examples of these posia on medical geology. The working publications are: group has also provided financial support for students and professionals from developing • “Environmental Medicine,” a book pub- countries to participate in scientific and pub- lished in 2000 at the Karolinska Institute, lic health events. Uppsala, Sweden. One chapter is on Med- The following list contains a few ical Geology. This book is now used for selected examples of the sponsored sym- courses for medical students at the posia. (For a complete list see the Medical Karolinska Institute and elsewhere (Seli- Geology web site at http://www.medicalge- nus, Frank 1999). ology.org): Figure 3 Frontpage of a short course • A paper was published in 1999 on medical syllabus CD. geology in tropical countries (Dis- • 2000 The International Geological Con- sanayake, Chandrajith 1999). gress, Rio de Janeiro. A symposium on The following short courses have been • A new book “Geoenvironmental Mapping” Geoscience and Health was organized in carried out partially or fully funded by the (edited by P. Bobrowsky) was published conjunction with the main congress. We IUGS and the ICSU grant: in 2001. One chapter is on also held a meeting of the Working Group Medical Geology (Selinus and IGCP 454. 2002). • 2001 Second East and Southern Africa • The BGS magazine, Earthwise, Regional Workshop in Geomedicine, has published a thematic issue Lusaka, Zambia. on Geology and Health (Earth- • 2001 Geological Society of America, wise 2001). Boston, Pardee Symposium on “The • “Epidemioecology News” (now Emerging Discipline of Medical Geol- called GeoHealth News), a new ogy”. newsletter on medical geology • 2002 The Pacific Basin Conference on Haz- is published by USGS. ardous Waste, Manila, Philippines

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• 2002 Washington DC: Healthy Ecosystems • 2006 International Symposium on Medical and there are 6 associate editors: Brian —Healthy people, Linkages between bio- Geology in Stockholm, Royal Swedish Alloway, Jose Centeno and Bob Finkelman, diversity, ecosystem health and human Academy of Sciences. Ron Fuge, Ulf Lindh, and Pauline Smedley. health was organized in collaboration with • 2006 43rd Brazilian Geological Congress There are almost 60 distinguished authors the National Academy of Sciences. • 2006 7th International Symposium on from all around the world. About 50% are • 2002 we presented the project at the XXIV Environmental Geochemistry (ISEG) geoscientists and about 50% are medics, vet- International Congress of the International erinarians and other scientists. The book con- Academy of Pathology. A special sympo- In addition, Working Group members tains more than 800 pages with illustrations sium on environmental pathology/medical have been invited to talk about Medical in full colour. The audience of the book will geology was organized. This was a very Geology at numerous universities, colleges, be junior to senior undergraduates and edu- important meeting since this was the first research hospitals, science clubs, etc. in more cated decision-makers. The main objective is time medical geology had been presented than 30 countries. to emphasise the importance of geology in for this large audience of medical and health and disease in humans and animals health professionals Medical geology—global impacts (Figure 5). • 2002 FOREGS meeting in Helsinki. This The activities of the IUGS Medical Geology Essentials of Medical Geology was in was a general assembly meeting for all Working Group has had, and will continue to November 2005 recognized as a “Highly director generals for all geological surveys have, profound impacts around the world. Commended” title in the Public Health cate- in Europe (about 40 countries presented). The following items are just some of the out- gory by the British Medical Association. As Medical Geology was introduced and dis- comes from this initiative. many likely know, this is a very prestigious ussed among this group of director gener- acknowledgment. The book is one of the best als. U.N. Year of Planet Earth • 2002 Quebec, ISTERH, International Soci- The International Year will be proclaimed ety for Trace Elements in Humans. through the United Nations, and has been • 2002 1st international symposium on adopted by the UNESCO Division of Earth geopollution and medical geology, Tokyo, Sciences as one of its core activities. Japan. The aim of the International Year of • 2002 we received a special invitation from Planet Earth is to demonstrate new and excit- the Royal Norwegian Academy of Sci- ing ways in which Earth sciences can help ences to present a lecture on medical geol- future generations meet the challenges ogy. involved in ensuring a safer and more pros- • 2002 GSA symposium on Human Health perous world (www.yearofplanetearth.org). Science & Geoscience: Bridging the The achievement of this aim will be Gap.Boston. supported by two major programmes • 2003 Ankara, Turkey, Congress on Medical • Outreach Programme including educational Geology and Cancer. ventures at all levels • 2003, the U.S. Geological Survey hosted a • Science Programme concentrating on ‘big conference entitled “Natural Science and issues’ of complex interaction within the Public Health—Prescription for a Better Earth system, and its long-term sustain- Environment Co-sponsored by the Armed ability. Figure 5 Essentials of Medical Geology. Forces Institute of Pathology, the U.S. The initiative will seek to raise the Environmental Protection Agency, and awareness of the contribution to, and role of of all published books in Public Health in The George Washington University’s the Earth sciences in society in the minds of 2005. They bestow awards upon publications School of Public Health. politicians, decision-makers, the media and “which are deemed to best fulfill the criteria • 2003 A special symposium on medical the general public. One of the topics will be of clinical accuracy and currency and which geology was organised at the 7th Interna- “Earth and Health”, that is medical geology maintain a high standard of design and pro- tional conference on biogeochemistry of (Figure 4). duction”. trace metals, in Sweden. Interdisciplinary Book on Medical Geology Essentials of Medical Geology also • 2003 In Edinburgh, at the Sixth Interna- A book on Medical Geology has been pub- won a second prestigious reward in January tional Symposium on Environmental Geo- lished by Elsevier (Academic Press) in 2005 2006. chemistry, there was an official meeting, a (Selinus et al 2005). O. Selinus is chief editor It was one of two winners in the “Geol- short course and special sessions on med- ogy/Geography” category of the 2005 ical geology. Awards for Excellence in Professional and • 2003 Chilean Geological congress—Med- Scholarly Publishing. The PSP awards rec- ical Geology Symposium ognize both editorial standards as well as • 2004 The sixth International Conference on design and production standards. PSP is the Arsenic Exposure and Health Effects, San Professional Scholar Publishing division of Diego, USA the Association of American Publishers. The • 2004 XXV Congress of the International book has now thus been recognized in both Academy of Pathology, Brisbane, Aus- communities for which it was intended (first tralia by the British Medical Association, and then • First Hemispheric Conference on Medical as a Geology resource). Geology, University of Turabo in Gurabo, A third award by Choice was won in Puerto Rico 2007. Every year Choice publishes a list of • 2005 20th European Congress of Pathol- Outstanding Academic Titles that were ogy, Paris reviewed during the previous calendar year. • 2006 3rd International Conference on Met- This prestigious list reflects the best in schol- als in the Environment in Vilnius, Lithua- Figure 4 Earth and Health, one of the arly titles reviewed by Choice and brings nia topics of International Year of Planet with it the extraordinary recognition of the Earth. academic library community. The list was

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known as Outstanding Academic Books until public health communities. On its final also of extreme importance to develop public 2000. report, the NRC study committee was asked outreach programs, conferences, and techni- to: cal exhibitions aimed at enhancing commu- Medical Geology Registry • Describe the present state of knowledge in nity involvement and dialogue, improving The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology the emerging field of medical geology. risk communication concepts to better (AFIP), Washington DC, USA has estab- • Describe the connections between earth sci- inform the public about ways to proactively lished a registry on medical geology. The ence and public health, addressing both prevent public health crises Registry on Medical Geology serves as the positive and negative societal impacts liaison between the medical/pathology com- over the full range from large-scale inter- International Medical Geology munity and the earth sciences, environmental actions to micro-scale biogeochemical Association (IMGA) and public health professionals. The aims of processes. Our organisation has now reached the stage the Registry on Medical Geology are: • Evaluate the need for specific support for of development in which a formal structure is 1. to facilitate the interactions between the medical geology research,and identify any necessary for it to function efficiently medical/public health community and the basic research needs in bioscience and (Finkelman et al 2004). As a result of the earth sciences, toxicologists, and other geoscience required to support medical work to date, an International Medical Geol- related areas; geology research. ogy Association was launched in January 2. to provide a centralized facility for the • Identify mechanisms for enhanced collabo- 2006 (Figure 6). The structure will enable us sharing of information, materials and ration between the earth science and med- to better respond to the opportunities, to research projects on medical geology; ical/public health communities. rapidly pass information to those interested 3. to provide opportunities for training (i.e., • Suggest how future efforts should be in Medical Geology issues, and to make crit- postdoctoral, postmedical, visiting scien- directed to anticipate and respond to pub- ical decisions that will benefit the discipline. tist/professor, etc.) on medical research lic health needs and threats, particularly as The name adopted for this new Association with particular emphasis on medical geol- a consequence of environmental change. is “International Medical Geology Associa- ogy, environmental and environmental tion” (IMGA). The Directors of the associa- epidemiology research; and New Division For Geology and Health at tion are: Olle Selinus (Geochemist, Sweden) 4. to develop educational materials, publica- the Geological Society of America Bob Finkelman (Geologist, USA), and Jose tions and activities (courses, workshops, At the Fall, 2004 annual meeting of the Geo- Centeno (Biomedical research scientist, symposia, conference) on medical geol- logical Society of America (GSA), the USA). David Elliott continues his work as ogy research topics. GSA’s Board of Directors approved the cre- The Medical Geology Registry sup- ation of a new Division dedicated to medical ports the International Medical Geology geology. More than 100 people signed the Association by providing information on petition requesting the creation of the Geol- environmental risk factors including dust ogy and Health Divison. The Division’s composition, toxic elements, and back- activities were evident at the 2006 GSA ground data. The studies conducted at this annual meeting where it sponsored or co- Registry use the capabilities of the AFIP on sponsored six symposia and technical ses- archival, identification, and relevant patho- sions. logical, toxicological and epidemiological Medical geology is an exciting interdis- information. ciplinary field that, thanks to the critical sup- The National Museum of Health and port of the IUGS will continue to grow Medicine in Washington, DC, has also rapidly. Several geological surveys are inte- unveiled an exhibit highlighting the develop- grating medical geology in their work and ing science of medical geology used by its medical geology materials is now included in Figure 6 International Medical Geology parent organization, the AFIP, to study university courses and research for medical Association, IMGA. health problems associated with arsenic. The and public health students. In the future it exhibit will run indefinitely. will be important to improve communication editor of the Newsletter. Secretary is Kim- among the various disciplines concerned berley Chisholm in Australia and treasurer is U.S. National Research Council on “Earth with diseases caused by geological factors David Slaney in New Zealand. We have Materials and Health” which influence the well being of humans appointed six Councillors to represent the A key report entitled “Earth Materials and and animals. To advance interdisciplinary broad geographic distribution of Medical Health—Research Priorities for Earth Sci- research at the interface of public health and Geology and the wide range of disciplines ences and Public Health” was recently environment health, it is important to facili- that are embraced by this topic. The Council- released by the U.S. National Research tate the formation of a consortium of govern- lors are: Bernardino Ribeiro de Figueiredo Council (NRC). Working in closed collabo- ment, industry and academia working (Geologist, Brazil), Fiona Fordyce (Geo- ration with several environmental, public together towards the creation of funding chemist, UK), Zheng Baoshan (Geochemist, health and geosciences organizations, the US opportrunities in medical geology. Geologi- China), Calin Tatu (Medical researcher, NRC was asked to undertake an study to cal surveys, universities and geological soci- Romania), Nomathemba Ndiweni (Veteri- explore avenues for interdisciplinary eties should take a more active role in pro- nary Biochemistry, Zimbabwe), and Philip research that would further knowledge at the viding useful information on geologic condi- Weinstein (Epidemiologist, Australia) . interface between the earth sciences and pub- tions in medical geology and encourage the The association will be the umbrella for lic health disciplines (i.e., medical geology). development of local working groups of regional divisions around the world. These To fulfill this task, the NRC set up a study multi-disciplinary medical geology experts. divisions include South America, Sub Sahara committee composed of geoscientists, toxi- It would also be useful to encourage research Africa, Indian subcontinent, two subdivi- cologists, epidemiologists, and public health in the area of producing more effective sions covering South-East Asia and China, professionals. The committee was charged methodologies for the study of geological Australia, Oceania, Russia and NIS, North with the task of advising on the high priority factors in environmental medicine and for- America, Europe, Southern Mediterranean research activities that should be undertaken mulate recommendations for mitigation of and Central America and Caribbean Basin. for optimum societal benefit, describing the effects of natural and man-induced haz- most profitable areas of communication and ardous geochemical conditions. Finally, for collaboration between the earth sciences and medical geology to be widely accepted, it is

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The future Centeno, J. A., Mullick, F. G., Martinez, L., Gibb, Tchounwou P. B., Patlolla A. K., and Centeno J. It is always risky to anticipate what the future H., Longfellow, D., and Thompson, C., 2002b, A., 2003, Carcinogenic and systemic health Chronic Arsenic Toxicity: An Introduction effects associated with arsenic exposure—a holds. Nevertheless, we are confident that the and Overview. Histopathology. Vol. 41, No. critical review. Toxicologic Pathology, Vol. future for medical geology still looks promis- 2, p. 324-326. 31, p. 575-588. ing, notwithstanding the already rapid Ceruti, P., Davies, T., Selinus, O., GEOMED 2001 Wang, Binbin, Finkelman, Robert B., Belkin, Har- growth of the sub-discipline. The book, —Medical Geology, The African Perspective. vey E., and Palmer, Curtis A., 2004, A possible Essentials of Medical Geology, has received Episodes, Vol 24, No 4. health benefit of coal combustion. Abstracts of an overwhelmingly positive response. This Dissanayake, C. B., Chandrajith, R., 1999, Med- the 21st Annual Meeting of the Society for award winning book will remain as the pri- ical geochemistry of tropical environments. Organic Petrology, Vol. 21, p. 196-198. mary source of information on the subject, Earth Science Reviews 47, 219-258. Workshop on Medical Geology, 2004. Special being translated now into Chinese. The Dissanayake, C, 2004. Medical Geology—a fasci- Publication No 83. Geological Survey of nating new science, Humboldt Kosmos No. India..418 pp. reviews have been uniformly positive and the 84/2004. first printing has nearly sold out in less than a Earth Materials and Health, Research Priorities for year. We anticipate that the book will stimu- Earth Science and Public Health, 2007, Olle Selinus late the teaching and research practice of National Research Council and Institute of Geological Survey of Sweden medical geology in collages and universities. Medicine of the National Academies. The Uppsala SE-751 28 The medical geology short course will con- National Academies Press, Washington DC. SWEDEN tinue to attract enthusiastic adherents and Earthwise, 2001, Geology and health. British Geo- practioners of medical geology. The Interna- logical Survey. Issue 17. Robert B. Finkelman tional Medical Geology Association will Feder, G. L., Radovanovic, Z., and Finkelman, R. University of Texas at Dallas B., 1991, Relationship between weathered coal continue to provide a stable platform for the Dept. of Geosciences deposits and the etiology of Balkan endemic Richardson exchange of ideas and dissemination of nephropathy. Kidney International, V. 40, information. The raft of other medical geol- TX 750833 Suppl. 34, p. s-9—s-11. USA ogy activities enumerated above will con- Finkelman, Robert B., Skinner, H., Catherine W., tinue to stimulate enthusiasm and momen- Plumlee, Geoffrey S., and Bunnell, Joseph E., Jose A. Centeno 2001, Medical Geology. Geotimes, Vol. 46, tum for the next few years. After that medical U. S. Armed Forces Institute of Pathology No. 11, p. 20-23. geologists will have to demonstrate that what Washington Finkelman, Robert B. Centeno Jose A., and Seli- we have to offer will indeed benefit society DC 20306-6000 nus, Olle, 2004, The Emerging Medical and by helping to improve the quality of life for USA Geological Association. Transactions of the people around the world. American Clinical and Climatological associa- Most importantly, the Medical Geol- tion. ogy revolution illustrates the foresight and Kinniburgh, D. G., and Smedley, P. L. (eds.), importance of the IUGS. By recognizing the 2001, Arsenic concentrations of groundwater need for this subdicipline and by providing in Bangladesh. British Geological Survey critical financial and moral support during its Technical Report WC/00/19, Vol. 1, 14p. formative years, the IUGS helped to foster Kousa, A., Moltchanova, E., Taskinen, O., this revolution and to contribute to its evolu- Nikkarinen, M., Tuomilehto, J., Karvonen, M., tion. 2004, Geographical variation of Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) and geochem- istry of local groundwater: Application of medical geology. GFF, Vol 126, part 1. References Orem, W. H., Feder, G. L., and Finkelman, R. B., 1999, A possible link between Balkan endemic Belkin, H. E., Zheng, B., Zhou, D., and Finkelman, nephropathy and the leaching of toxic organic R. B., 1997, Preliminary results on the Geo- compounds from Pliocene lignite by ground- chemistry and Mineralogy of Arsenic in Min- water: preliminary investigation. Int. Jour. of eralized Coals from Endemic Arsenosis in Coal Geol., Vol. 40, Nos. 2-3, p. 237-252. Guizhou Province, P. R. China: Proceedings of Roberto da Silva, C, Ribeiro Figueiredo, B, Mello the Fourteenth Annual International Pittsburgh de Capitani, E, Goncalves da Cunha, F, 2006. Coal Conference and Workshop. CD-ROM p. Geologia Medica no Brazil. CPRM, 211pp. 1-20. Selinus, O., 2002. Medical Geology: Method The- Belkin, H. E., Kroll, D., Zhou, D.-X., Finkelman, ory and Practice. In Geoenvironmental map- R. B., and Zheng, B., 2003, Field test kit to ping, Ed P Bobrowsky. Pp 473-496. Balkeema identify arsenic-rich coals hazardous to human press. health. Abstract in Natural Science and Public Selinus, O. S., 2004, Medical Geology: an emerg- Health—Prescription for a Better Environ- ing speciality. Terrae, Vol 1(1), A1-A8 ment. U.S. Geological Survey Open-file Selinus, O., Frank, A., 1999, Medical geology, in Report 03-097. Unpaginated. Möller, L., eds, Environmental medicine. pp Berger, A, Selinus, O., Skinner, C., 2001. “Med- 164-183. Joint Industrial Safety Council, ical Geology”—an emerging discipline. Stockholm. Episodes, Vol 24, No 1. Selinus, O., Alloway, B., Centeno, J. A., Finkel- .Bowman, C., Bobrowski, P. T, Selinus, O, 2003. man, R. B., Fuge, R., Lindh, U., and Smedley, Medical Geology: New relevance in the Earth P. (editors), 2005, Essentials of Medical Geol- Sciences. Episodes, Vol 26, No 4, 270-278. ogy. Elsevier, Amsterdam, 820 p. Bunnell. J, E., 2004. Medical geology: Emerging Skinner, C, and Berger, A (editors), 2000.Geology Discipline on the Ecosystem-Human Health and Public Health—Closing the Gap, 2000. Interface. EcoHealth 1. 15-18. Oxford Press. Centeno, J. A., Mullick, F. G., Martinez, L., Page, Tatu, C. A., Orem, W. H., Finkelman, R. B., and N. P., Gibb, H., Longfellow, D., Thompson, Feder, G. L., 1998, The etiology of Balkan D., Ladich, E. R., 2002a, Pathology Related to Endemic Nephropathy: still more questions Chronic Arsenic Exposure. Environmental than answers. Environmental Health Perspec- Health Perspectives, Vol. 110, No. 5, p.883- tives, Vol. 106, No. 11, p. 689-700. 886.

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