MEDICAL GEOLOGY WORKING GROUP

Medical geology SGU is active and leader in international initiatives in medical geology. Because of the importance of geological factors on health, the IUGS commission COGEOENVIRONMENT (Commission on Geological Sciences for Environmental Planning) established in 1996 an International Working Group on Medical Geology led from the Geological Survey of Sweden. In 2000 a new IGCP project was also established by UNESCO; ”IGCP#454 Medical Geology”, also this chaired from SGU involving co chairs from Canada and UK. The primary aim of the projects were to bring together, at the global scale, scientists working in this field in developing countries with their colleagues in other parts of the world stressing the importance of geoscientific factors that affect the health of humans and animals. The International Council of Science (ICSU) also sponsors international short courses in this subject, a cooperation involving SGU, United States Geological Survey and the US Armed Forces of Pathology in Washington DC. As a result of the significant achievements the Working Group was given a Special Project status by the IUGS in 2002 operating directly under the IUGS, chaired by SGU. In 2004 a decision was also taken in forming a new association: International Medical Geology Association, IMGA, chaired by SGU. Further information: www.medicalgeology.org.