**The Role of Environment and Wildlife in Human Health**

(Warren Day, Bruce Gamble, Marty Goldhaber, Sam Johnson, Jon Kolak, Rama
Kotra, Geoff Plumlee, Barry Rosen, and Judy Back)

[Resources identified]{.underline}:

-   Proposals

-   Bureau plan

-   Recommendations of recent human health conference

-   Human Health Coordinating Committee six topics (health.usgs.gov):

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-   Potential contaminants and pathogens in air, dusts, and soils

-   Drinking Water Exposure to Chemical and Pathogenic Contaminants

-   Human Consumption of Bioaccumulative Contaminants

-   Vector Borne and Zoonotic (animal to human) Disease

-   Pathogen Exposure Through Recreational Waters

-   Animals as Sentinels of Human Health

[Questions]{.underline}:

(1a) What does Geology have to do to be a significant player or
contributor?

-   Roll up what we do into one geographically based product that can be
    used by other scientific groups, such as epidemiologists,
    hydrologists, chemists, and geologists). Develop on-line
    geographical data base/atlas of potential environmental health
    threats and expand access to existing data.

    -   Do we have the data? If so, is it organized in the right way?
        Should we bring in other sources of data? Merge or make
        compatible with CDC and other health-related databases?

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-   Study the health impacts of earth materials in a
    geologic/geochemical context Investigate the role of toxins at the
    cellular level.

    -   Asbestos and coal examples: Look at worker cohorts in textile
        mills and mines.\
        Asbestos: We need to point out that components other than the
        presence of "asbestos fibers" are important. Investigate the
        crystal chemistry of asbestiform minerals and other associated
        materials at the molecular level.\
        Coal: We are now seeing that pyrite influences health effects of
        coal. Bioavailability of iron is affected by pyrite =\> toxicity

    -   Studies that relate bedrock and sediment compositions to
        elevated arsenic concentrations in drinking water, such as in
        Bangladesh and Alaska.

-   In order to best articulate our niche, we have to work closely with
    our partners/potential partners in the health and regulatory
    communities.

-   Emerging issues based on changing technologies (e.g. biofuels)

(1b) What is our niche?

-   Data

-   We study a wide range of earth materials and processes on a wide
    range of scales that can also be applied to anthropogenic materials
    and processes.

-   National maps that show areas that may be of concern.

\(2\) What has to be changed, adapted or grown in Geology?

-   We have to decide how serious we area about playing in this arena
    and then commit. Maybe, if funding channels allow, we need to create
    a Human Health Program. We need a plan and direction.

-   Approach health community to see where their pressing issues are and
    see how we can contribute. Suggest and take guidance. E.g. Libby,
    MT; coal-related health issues. Keep our eyes opened on new
    health/medical issues.

-   Better translate our data for the health community. This may be an
    iterative process. For example, Radon: USGS worked with people in
    the health community to translate the geologic information directly
    for them. Our categories originally were too broad for them. Looked
    at their problem areas and found that geology was the missing piece
    for their model. They taught us and we taught them.

\(3\) What new technologies, expertise and data are needed to achieve
the vision?

-   Expertise: Need toxicological and epidemiological expertise. We
    can't hire all of our "missing" expertise. We have had a few
    Mendenhalls with expertise -- e.g. toxicology post doc. We need to
    collaborate with experts outside of Geology (e.g. Contaminant
    Biology Program) and the USGS.

-   Develop new analytical techniques and capabilities to rapidly and
    economically analyze some of the emerging toxins.

-   Apply state-of-the-art earth science methodologies to biomedical
    applications (e.g. Synchrotron may be used to map oxidation states,
    which in some instances relates to bioavailability of materials)

\(4\) Which strategic partners need to be cultivated?

-   Health, environmental, regulatory, and military communities (e.g.
    EPA, NIOSH, CDC, ATSDR, NIEHS, and DoD).

    -   Partners need to have information for their epidemiological
        studies

    -   We need to get people from medical community active engaged in
        our studies in order to gain acceptance. Can't hire a lot of new
        people.

    -   Propose joint initiatives with partners. Ask to be members of
        their strategic planning efforts

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-   Cultivating new partners takes time and perseverance. e.g. Asbestos:
    ATSDR, EPA, NIOSH = health and regulatory agencies. We needed to
    recognize that we were working with two populations in these
    agencies: risk assessors and regulatory people. There is a lot of
    uncertainty when agencies make their rules/regulations. We can give
    them data to reduce their uncertainty. Concern: Will they pay for
    our assistance? Often it's not in their budget.

(5a) What barriers do we have to overcome and how?

-   Perception that we don't have the credentials

-   Perceptions that we are infringing on their turf

-   Lack of understanding of the complexity of geologic materials and
    processes. This leads to the perception that we needlessly
    complicate the regulatory component of our potential strategic
    partners' jobs (e.g. court cases)

. (5b) How do we overcome these barriers?

-   Educate health community about what we can do for them by developing
    case studies in collaboration with epidemiologists. Demonstrate to
    public health community that we can provide data and analysis they
    need (CDC and NIH). Epidemiological, toxicity, tissue, and cellular
    studies are conducted by the health community. We can contribute to
    each of these types of studies. We can help to characterize what is
    there, how they interact with body on a cellular basis, etc. We are
    making advances in having our mineralogy studies accepted by the
    health community, but still problems with becoming involved in
    toxicological studies (perceived as practicing medicine without a
    license, encroaching on their turf)

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-   Enhance our credibility with the health/medical/environmental
    community. Leverage our relationship and credibility with EPA to
    expand our presence in the greater health/medical/environmental
    communities.

-   Be bolder in approaching the health community.

-   Propose strategic alliance with health community for joint
    initiatives.

-   Re-institute USGS Human Health Coordinator position (e.g. someone
    from biomedical community who buys in to the importance of the
    connection between Geology and Health). It is important to have
    high-level USGS management to join our scientists in collaborative
    efforts to demonstrate the commitment of USGS management.

-   We've had some success with visiting scientists from outside coming
    to USGS

-   Need to persevere

[Suggested project-level work]{.underline}:

-   Enhance all geology databases to make readily available to the
    health community. Develop national atlas? Work to achieve bureau
    strategic action item of developing the online data atlas of
    environmental health threats and contribute to development of
    national environmental health information system. Incorporate/merge
    data from other sources (e.g. CDC).

-   Develop new, inexpensive analytical techniques and capabilities to
    analyze some of the emerging toxins (e.g., PAH's, pharmaceuticals).
    Apply state-of-the-art methodologies to biomedical applications
    (e.g. synchrotron -- to map oxidation states, useful in
    bioavailability). Provide tools: Mineralogy matters. Where does the
    Cr reside. What is the bioavailability of As and Hg. Provide
    standard set of analytical tools/capabilities to USGS scientists for
    human health studies. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) a
    number are known carcinogens. Medical community is becoming
    increasingly interested in them. We have the capability to analyze
    these. We could provide regional information on PAHs in soils and
    sediments. Potential partners include EPRI. Soils project not yet
    working on this.

-   Demonstration project -- urban areas in context of regional
    baselines. Rural to urban transition project. Understanding
    baselines (of contaminants, such as PAHs, organics, inorganics and
    bioavailability of elements/compounds) in rocks, soils, sediments,
    dusts, water and microbes that we interact with. Eventually expand
    to a National level. Need to better understand the urban
    environment. For example, EPA is looking at atmospheric particulates
    in urban areas, but hasn't begun to look at soils. Playground and
    daycare centers studies in Norway have shown that even if
    contamination has been covered, exposure to soils during
    construction can re-expose populations.

-   Terrestrial-marine interface: Target estuaries and wetlands: Sinks
    for sediments and contaminants, life incubators and nurseries.
    Importance to human food chain.

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-   Near shore contamination and beach closures: Wet-season runoff and
    non-point source pollution. Dry season bacteria concentrations.
    People get sick. Water test results are late and beach closures
    currently are reactive. We have some capabilities to help develop
    predictive modeling for beach closures. Would have health and
    economic impact. Start with demonstration projects on high-energy
    beach (California) and low-energy beach (Florida).

[Other comments]{.underline}**:**

Pierre Glynn:

-   Beach closures: WRD is conducting microbiological studies in
    Michigan and Ohio and through the NRP. Their scientists have the
    time to engage in our efforts.

-   Mineralogy, sediments and bioavailability: GD can be a big player
    here; WRD has declining expertise in sediments and mineralogy and
    would like to cooperate/coordinate in these areas. Sediment is
    ingested by animals.

-   Need to understand organic as well as inorganic contaminants assoc.
    with sediments and minerals.

-   Health in inner cities/urban areas is an important effort. These
    studies could be done in collaboration with academia.

Connie Nutt:

-   Getting databases usable is an important effort, but not the end
    point. There is a Geology Venture Capital Fund proposal to merge our
    databases with CDC data.

Bob Szaro:

-   USGS microbiology and genetic efforts are being coordinated through
    working groups/bulletin board. This information needs to be
    distributed to people at this meeting so that they can further
    distribute throughout Geology.

Linda Gundersen:

Wildlife component still needs to be addressed.

How does interaction with bureau health committee proceed? This should
be captured in the Geology Science Strategy.

Steve Ingebritsen:

-   Native fishing should be a good place to look at the health effects
    of anthropogenic materials on the environment.

Leslie Holland-Bartels:

-   ASC has initiated a collaborative effort with Alaska Natives. They
    already have a health database. Could be a great opportunity for our
    health studies.

Intersection with Hazards:

-   Tim Murray: Volcanic ash: respiratory impacts as well as chemical
    interactions in the surface and water.

-   Dave Applegate: Geomagnetic storms -- increased risk for exposure to
    pilots and the general public during solar flares?

-   Post-catatrophic hazard event (earthquakes, flooding, hurricanes,
    etc): Many chemicals, etc. are released into the environment and can
    have impacts on human health.

-   Bonnie Murchey/Jeff Wynn: Incorporate human health concerns in USGS
    disaster response efforts and teams. Practice scenarios. An
    opportunity to test our health models. E.g. New Madrid disaster
    scenario.

Intersection with Climate Change:

Pat Jellison: Public health impacts of climate change. We should
anticipate health issues as climate changes. CDC is getting ready to
roll out a climate change initiative.

John Haines: Climate change should result in changing patterns of
disease vectors.

As climate changes, so will our footprint on the land. We need to
understand the potential health risks. As we change land use, we may
have to look for new sources of water, there will be a loss of physical
habitats and native communities, more flooding. Also, as we relocate/use
lands for different purposes, we may uncover contaminants that no longer
were exposed to the environment, etc.