title: Medical geology in the framework of the sustainable development goals.
abstract: Exposure to geogenic contaminants (GCs) such as metal(loid)s, radioactive metals and isotopes as well as transuraniums occurring naturally in geogenic sources (rocks, minerals) can negatively impact on environmental and human health. The GCs are released into the environment by natural biogeochemical processes within the near-surface environments and/or by anthropogenic activities such as mining and hydrocarbon exploitation as well as exploitation of geothermal resources. They can contaminate soil, water, air and biota and subsequently enter the food chain with often serious health impacts which are mostly underestimated and poorly recognized. Global population explosion and economic growth and the associated increase in demand for water, energy, food, and mineral resources result in accelerated release of GCs globally. The emerging science of "medical geology" assesses the complex relationships between geo-environmental factors and their impacts on humans and environments and is related to the majority of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals in the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations for Sustainable Development. In this paper, we identify multiple lines of evidence for the role of GCs in the incidence of diseases with as yet unknown etiology (causation). Integrated medical geology promises a more holistic understanding of the occurrence, mobility, bioavailability, bio-accessibility, exposure and transfer mechanisms of GCs to the food-chain and humans, and the related ecotoxicological impacts and health effects. Scientific evidence based on this approach will support adaptive solutions for prevention, preparedness and response regarding human and environmental health impacts originating from exposure to GCs.
authors.affiliation: Deputy Vice-Chancellor's Office (Research and Innovation), University of Southern Queensland, West Street, Toowoomba 4350 QLD, Australia; International Centre for Applied Climate Science, University of Southern Queensland, West Street, Toowoomba 4350 QLD, Australia; Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, West Street, Toowoomba 4350 QLD, Australia; KTH-International Groundwater Arsenic Research Group, Department of Sustainable Development, Environmental Science and Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Teknikringen 76, SE-10044 Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: Jochen.Bundschuh@usq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bundschuh
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Applied Climate Science, University of Southern Queensland, West Street, Toowoomba 4350 QLD, Australia; Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, National Chung Cheng University, 168 University Road, Min-Hsiung, Chiayi County 62102, Taiwan. Electronic address: jyoti_maity@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Jyoti Prakash
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Maity
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Applied Climate Science, University of Southern Queensland, West Street, Toowoomba 4350 QLD, Australia. Electronic address: shahbaz.mushtaq@usq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Shahbaz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mushtaq
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Applied Climate Science, University of Southern Queensland, West Street, Toowoomba 4350 QLD, Australia; Chemical and Environmental Systems Modeling Research Group, National Institute of Fundamental Studies, Kandy 20000, Sri Lanka. Electronic address: meththikavithanage@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Meththika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vithanage
authors.affiliation: Centre for Crop Health, University of Southern Queensland, West Street, Toowoomba 4350 QLD, Australia. Electronic address: Saman.Seneweera@usq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Saman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seneweera
authors.affiliation: Sanitation and Environment Dept., School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Urban Design, State University of Campinas, 113083-889 Campinas, (SP), Brazil. Electronic address: jerusasch@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jerusa
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Applied Climate Science, University of Southern Queensland, West Street, Toowoomba 4350 QLD, Australia; KTH-International Groundwater Arsenic Research Group, Department of Sustainable Development, Environmental Science and Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Teknikringen 76, SE-10044 Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: prosun@kth.se.
authors.forename: Prosun
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bhattacharya
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia; GIS Social Science Division, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Los Banos, Laguna 4031, Philippines. Electronic address: nasreen.khan@anu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Nasreen Islam
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Applied Climate Science, University of Southern Queensland, West Street, Toowoomba 4350 QLD, Australia. Electronic address: ihsan.hamawand@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ihsan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hamawand
authors.affiliation: Soil Science Department, Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), Campus Universitário, Caixa Postal 3037, CEP: 37200-000 Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Electronic address: guilherm@dcs.ufla.br.
authors.forename: Luiz R G
authors.initials: LRG
authors.lastname: Guilherme
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Applied Climate Science, University of Southern Queensland, West Street, Toowoomba 4350 QLD, Australia. Electronic address: kathryn.reardon-smith@usq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Reardon-Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman, School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th St., 10032 NewYork, NY, USA. Electronic address: mp844@columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Faruque
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Parvez
authors.affiliation: The Swedish Defence University, Box 27805, Stockholm 115 93, Sweden. Electronic address: simforsmoralesnury@outlook.com.
authors.forename: Nury
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Morales-Simfors
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, West Street, Toowoomba 4350 QLD, Australia. Electronic address: sara_ghaze@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghaze
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Applied Climate Science, University of Southern Queensland, West Street, Toowoomba 4350 QLD, Australia. Electronic address: christa.pudmenzky@usq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Christa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pudmenzky
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Applied Climate Science, University of Southern Queensland, West Street, Toowoomba 4350 QLD, Australia. Electronic address: louis.kouadio@usq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kouadio
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, National Chung Cheng University, 168 University Road, Min-Hsiung, Chiayi County 62102, Taiwan. Electronic address: chienyen.chen@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Chien-Yen
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005844:Geology; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D058955:Metalloids; D008670:Metals; D011634:Public Health; D014480:United Nations
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D058955:Metalloids; D008670:Metals
keywords: Food chain; Geogenic contaminants; Medical geology; Public health; Toxic trace elements; Water resources