The medical geology revolution

Because of the importance of geological factors on health an International Working Group on Medical Geology was established in 1998, with the primary aim of increasing awareness of this issue among scientists, medical specialists, and the general public. In 2000 a new project was established by UNESCO. The primary aim of the projects was to bring together, on a global scale, scientists working in this field in developing countries with their colleagues in other parts of the world. The International Council of Scientific Unions （ICSU） also sponsored international short courses in this subject, a cooperation involving The Geological Survey of Sweden, US Geological Survey and the US Armed Forces of Pathology. In 2006 a new association was established： International Medical Geology Association, IMGA. Regional Divisions all over the world have been established. Two text books have been published, the most recent one by Elsevier 2005： Essentials of Medical Geology which has received two prestigious international awards. A website （ http：//www.medicalgeology.org ） and regular newsletters have been published. Short courses on medical geology, have been held since 2001 in more than 30 countries. Medical geology will also be one of the ten main topics within the Year of Planet Earth declared by UN General Assembly December 22, 2005. Medical geology is also one of the five topics within the GeoUnion initiative. The international impact has been tremendous. Universities all around the world are starting courses and education in medical geology, the first centers are under construction, symposias have been held and a world wide collaboration has started between geoscientists, environmental researchers, epidemiologists, toxicologists, pathologists and other scientists.

The medical geology revolution