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Connecting the Geological and

Biomedical Sciences: GSA’s Geology

and Health Scientific Division

Malcolm Siegel, Chair, GSA Geology and Health Scientific Division between geochemistry and health were held in the United States
Nelson Eby, First Vice-Chair, GSA Geology and Health Scientific and Germany in the 1960s and 1970s, and collaboration among
Division scientists from various parts of the world led to establishment of
Laura Ruhl, Second Vice-Chair, GSA Geology and Health the Society for Environmental Geochemistry and Health (SEGH)
Scientific Division and the journal Environmental Geochemistry and Health in 1985.
Jean Morrison, GSA Geology and Health Scientific Division The field has grown to include the development of formal courses
Reto Gieré, Member-at-Large, GSA Geology and Health at academic institutions and short courses at international conven-
Scientific Division tions. In addition, over the past 20 years, several medical geology
Ann Ojeda, GSA Geology and Health Communications Chair books have been published describing the health impacts of vari-
ous geogenic materials (e.g., specific elements, minerals, organic
GSA’s Geology and Health scientific Division was established in compounds, volcanic ash, and dust) as well as tools and techniques
2005 and has maintained a membership of about 200 professionals used in medical geology. A survey of several hundred articles in
and students. Medical geology has been defined as, “The impacts Google Scholar and PubMed using the key words “geology and
of geologic materials and geologic processes on animal and human health” and “medical geology” published since 2006 revealed
health” (Selinus et al., 2005). It holistically integrates information more than 300 articles in 166 different journal outlets.
drawn from the geological and medical sciences and aims at connect- The Geology and Health Division sponsors technical sessions
ing the presence of environmental contaminants to human health and Symposia at GSA annual and Section Meetings, and a second
effects. Medical geology attempts to bridge the “cultural” differences medical geology short course will be offered at GSA Connects
between the way that geoscientists and medical specialists view risks 2021. The Division also sponsors student research grants and sev-
posed by geologic materials and processes and, thus, can lead to more eral awards, including the Meritorious Service, the Distinguished
effective risk communication and risk management. Career, the Best Publication, and Student Poster. We collaborate
Although the term “medical geology” was not officially adopted with other international organizations with similar interests,
until 1997, publications containing references to this relationship including the International Medical Geology Association, the
date back to the third century BCE. Early reports from China American Geophysical Union Geohealth Section, and the
discuss lung problems related to rock crushing and symptoms of International Society for Exposure Science.
occupational lead poisoning. The relationship between goiter due Over the past few decades, medical geology has encompassed
to severe iodine deficiency was probably recognized by medical several tools and subdisciplines. Many of the early studies of the
practitioners in the Inca state of Peru. Hippocrates noted that relationships between soil or water geochemistry and disease
under certain circumstances, water coming from soil that pro- were descriptive or used the tools of environmental epidemiology.
duces thermal waters, such as those containing iron, copper, Later studies used the tools of chemical extraction, surface spec-
silver, and other elements, was “bad for every purpose.” It has troscopy, and chemical reaction modeling to understand the fate
been suggested that a contributing factor to the fall of the Roman of geogenic materials ingested or inhaled in biological fluids.
Empire in 476 CE may have been the excessive use of lead in In the decade ahead, incorporation of concepts and methods in
pottery, water pipes, and other sources. exposure science could be fruitful. These include studies within
Medical geology has a long tradition in northern Europe. the framework of the exposome, the use of -omics technologies,
Historically, farmers in Norway have been aware of the unusu- and geographic information systems. There is much more to be
ally frequent occurrence of osteomalacia, a bone disease among learned about the health impacts of coal combustion; the gastro/
domestic animals in certain districts where bedrock soils are pulmonary geochemistry of lead, arsenic, uranium, and synthetic
very poor in the mineral apatite, causing phosphorus deficiency chemicals; and the environmental transport of geogenic and
in the vegetation, which could be remedied by adding phospho- anthropogenic contaminants. We hope the future holds a greater
rus fertilizer to the soil or crushed bone to the animal feed. emphasis on building stronger connections between the broader
Modern medical geology has developed in Europe, Asia, Africa, public-health community, environmental engineering, public pol-
and the United States. Conferences focusing on the relationship icy, and climate-change science.

26 GSA Today | August 2021