KEYNOTE Medical geology: A classic example of environmental injustice

Environmental Justice is defined as the fair treatment of all people regardless of race, national origin, or income level with respect to environmental laws and regulations and their enforcement. Unfortunately, Environmental... [ view full abstract ]

Environmental Justice is defined as the fair treatment of all people regardless of race, national origin, or income level with respect to environmental laws and regulations and their enforcement. Unfortunately, Environmental Injustice is all too common. This is particularly true when it comes to the health impacts of minerals, trace elements, naturally occurring organic compounds, and radioactivity. Most of the severe medical geology health problems afflict people who live in constant contact with the natural environment. A major reason for this disparity is that those people who are affected most by the mobilization of trace elements, minerals, and organic compounds are generally poor, live in rural communities, and are politically weak. Thus, the situation is a classic example of environmental injustice. Examples include: communities living above and near active burning coal seams in Jharia, India; people drinking water that has leached organic compounds from lignite aquifers; villagers in China suffering from exposure to arsenic, fluorine, selenium, and quartz mobilized from domestic coal combustion; and respiratory problems in South African Townships and Native American reservations burning coal indoors. Scientists have an opportunity, if not an obligation, to help protect the health of these disadvantaged people. This can be accomplished by: generating data bases containing accurate and comprehensive analytical data; conducting collaborative research on the health impacts of geogenic material; disseminating the data to public health agencies, to government decision makers at every level, to citizen’s advocacy organizations; and providing appropriate information to the people most likely affected by geogenic materials.