GEOLOGY AND HUMAN HEALTH Nancy Thorpe, PhD Hagerstown Community College Hagerstown, MD AFACCT 1/14/05

Goals Introduce the cutting edge concept of the interrelationship between geoscience and environmental health Introduce the cutting edge concept of the interrelationship between geoscience and environmental health Discuss some current human health issues related to geology Discuss some current human health issues related to geology Explore ways of integrating human health issues into Intro to Physical Geology courses Explore ways of integrating human health issues into Intro to Physical Geology courses

My Experience M.S. degree Geoenvironmental Studies M.S. degree Geoenvironmental Studies –Water Hardness and Cardiovascular Disease – PhD – Marine, Estuarine Environmental Science – UMD – College Park 2002 PhD – Marine, Estuarine Environmental Science – UMD – College Park 2002 –Herbicides and Nitrates in Groundwater of Maryland and Childhood Cancer: A GIS Approach

Workshops attended Geology and Human Health May 12-15, 2004 Chico Hot Springs Resort, Pray, MT. On the Cutting Edge Workshop. Geology and Human Health May 12-15, 2004 Chico Hot Springs Resort, Pray, MT. On the Cutting Edge Workshop Maryland EPHT 2004 Summer Workshop, Baltimore, MD Data Collection and Data Sharing. Environmental Public Health Tracking Program. Maryland EPHT 2004 Summer Workshop, Baltimore, MD Data Collection and Data Sharing. Environmental Public Health Tracking Program ESRI International Health GIS Conference Oct , 2004, Washington, DC. ESRI International Health GIS Conference Oct , 2004, Washington, DC

Multitude of Health Issues Associated with a Multitude of Geology-related Issues Minerals/Elements – Bad: Asbestos, arsenides, metals – Good: calcium, sodium, iron, magnesium, iodine Minerals/Elements – Bad: Asbestos, arsenides, metals – Good: calcium, sodium, iron, magnesium, iodine Natural disasters – earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, floods Natural disasters – earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, floods Water pollution – pesticides, industrial wastes, hydrocarbons, solvents Water pollution – pesticides, industrial wastes, hydrocarbons, solvents Air pollution – radon, industrial, burning of fossil fuels Air pollution – radon, industrial, burning of fossil fuels Other environmental problems – acid rain, global warming, acid-mine drainage Other environmental problems – acid rain, global warming, acid-mine drainage

Suggestions for integration Choice of textbook and lab manual Choice of textbook and lab manual (the hardest but most important part!!!!) I use the following: I use the following: –Physical Geology: Exploring the Earth 5 th ed. Monroe and Wicander, Thomson-Brooks/Cole –Laboratory Manual in Physical Geology 6 th ed Busch & Tasa, AGI & NAGT, Prentice-Hall –GIS Investigations for the Earth Sciences, Hall- Wallace, Thomson-Brooks/Cole

Suggestions for integration cont. Other resources – books, journals, internet Other resources – books, journals, internet – – – – dex.html dex.htmlhttp://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/health04/in dex.html – – Informative handouts Informative handouts Additional Info: My Research on Groundwater Quality and Health Additional Info: My Research on Groundwater Quality and Health My Research on Groundwater Quality and Health My Research on Groundwater Quality and Health Berkeley Pit, Butte, MT Berkeley Pit, Butte, MT Berkeley Pit, Butte, MT Berkeley Pit, Butte, MT

Suggestions for integration cont. Activities Activities Lecture: Lecture: –Hazard City 2e: Assignments in Applied Geology – Hobart King, CD, Prentice-Hall –Written Paper Assignment –GIS Mapping Assignment Lab Lab –GIS Activities

Suggestions for integration cont. Other ideas ????? Other ideas ????? What information or activities do you have to share? What information or activities do you have to share? Field Trips?? Field Trips??

Thanks for coming! Have a happy and environmentally healthy New Year! Have a happy and environmentally healthy New Year!