Geomedisin

Geomedicine is the science of the environment’s impact on health of humans and animals. The term "medical geology" is also sometimes used for this science. The field of knowledge builds first and foremost on epidemiology (on the distribution of disease) and chemical, geophysical and biological areas of science. There are several examples of links between the natural environment and occurrence of disease. Both too much and too little of some elements/agents can be harmful. Well known examples from Norway are the associations between fluoride/caries, iodine/goitre and radon/lung cancer. Poisoning through high levels of arsenic or fluoride in drinking water have attracted substantial international attention because the damages, ranging from ceratosis (excess formation of the horn layer of the skin) to cancer, and from mottled teeth to skeletal deformities, are seen in large populations.
The correlation between ultra-violet radiation from the sun and the annual incidence of skin cancer can be seen when the two maps below are compared.

The map shows the rates per 1000 000 population, of malignant melanoma in Norwegian counties, adjusted for age and sex, for the period 1997-2001









Source: Cancer in Norway 2001, the Norw. Cancer Registry 2004.

The map shows doses (erythematic doses in Joule/m2) of ultraviolet radiation from the sun (in UV doses) during the time period 1 June to 30 September in 19 counties. The data are given for the population-density-centre* in each county and represent mean values for 1880-2000. The doses are based on model estimates and satellite measurements.
*Population-density-centre: The estimates are carried out at the location within the county where the "average inhabitant in the country would be".

Source: Professor Arne Dalback, Institute of Physics, University of Oslo.