ASK THE DOCTOR...

Q: Dear Dr. Pat Hologist,

What is GeoHealth?

~ Curious in Texas

A: Dear Curious,

GeoHealth is the scientific discipline that

examines the impacts of geologic materials and processes

on human and ecosystem health, includes both natural

and anthropogenic sources of potential health problems,

and implies that wildlife and plant diseases are not

excluded.

Many people attach great importance to

names. For most of us our name is the only thing that we

carry with us from the day we are born to the day we die

and beyond. Ideally, for a scientific discipline the name

defines who they are, what they do, and how they relate to

other disciplines. Yes, a name is important; nevertheless,

we should not get hung up over terminology. Whether we

refer to our activities as GeoHealth, Geoscience and

Public Health, Medical Geology, Epidemioecology,

Medical Geography, Medical Ecology, Clinical Ecology,

Environmental Medical Epidemiology, Geomedicine,

Geoepidemiology, Geology and Health, Geology,

Environment and Health, Medical Geography, Pathoecology, or Hydrobiogeochemoepidemiopathoecology,

we are all trying to accomplish the same thing. And that

is to apply our scientific skills, tools, databases, etc. to

helping the public health community solve a wide range

of environmental health problems.

We will probably be wrestling with terminology

for some time before we settle on a label but, rest assured,

we are not the only ones struggling with this issue. An

editorial will be appearing shortly in Environmental

Health Perspectives describes the birth pains of new

multidisciplinary fields such as Conservation Medicine,

Medical Geology, Ecological Medicine, and others. The

editorial concludes that “The name game will continue,

but, ... what really matters to those nurturing the field is

that all the affected professions should work together.”

The editors of this newsletter welcome:

· Suggestions on what to include in future newsletters

· Suggestions on the newsletter format.

· Email addresses of USGS people who may be

interested in receiving copies of the newsletter.

(Note: subscribers will receive email notification of

future editions of the newsletter that will be posted

on a USGS website).

· Contributions toward upcoming events or U.S.

Geological Survey News (The editors of this

GeoHealth newsletter value any input through their

readers. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at anytime

and thank you for your replies.)

Contributing Editors - Ione L. Taylor and

Robert B. Finkelman

Editor - Joe Bunnell

Graphic Designer - Eric A. Morrissey

For questions, contributions, or suggestions

regarding any part of this newsletter, please contact:

Joe Bunnell: jbunnell@usgs.gov -- 703-648-6497.

For more information related to the topic of

GeoHealth, go to http://energy.er.usgs.gov and select the

"Medical Geology" logo link.

* The best ideas submitted will win

a special GeoHealth prize!*

11
ASK THE DOCTOR...

Q: Dear Dr. Pat Hologist,

What is GeoHealth?

~ Curious in Texas

A: Dear Curious,

GeoHealth is the scientific discipline that

examines the impacts of geologic materials and processes

on human and ecosystem health, includes both natural

and anthropogenic sources of potential health problems,

and implies that wildlife and plant diseases are not

excluded.

Many people attach great importance to

names. For most of us our name is the only thing that we

carry with us from the day we are born to the day we die

and beyond. Ideally, for a scientific discipline the name

defines who they are, what they do, and how they relate to

other disciplines. Yes, a name is important; nevertheless,

we should not get hung up over terminology. Whether we

refer to our activities as GeoHealth, Geoscience and

Public Health, Medical Geology, Epidemioecology,

Medical Geography, Medical Ecology, Clinical Ecology,

Environmental Medical Epidemiology, Geomedicine,

Geoepidemiology, Geology and Health, Geology,

Environment and Health, Medical Geography, Pathoecology, or Hydrobiogeochemoepidemiopathoecology,

we are all trying to accomplish the same thing. And that

is to apply our scientific skills, tools, databases, etc. to

helping the public health community solve a wide range

of environmental health problems.

We will probably be wrestling with terminology

for some time before we settle on a label but, rest assured,

we are not the only ones struggling with this issue. An

editorial will be appearing shortly in Environmental

Health Perspectives describes the birth pains of new

multidisciplinary fields such as Conservation Medicine,

Medical Geology, Ecological Medicine, and others. The

editorial concludes that “The name game will continue,

but, ... what really matters to those nurturing the field is

that all the affected professions should work together.”

The editors of this newsletter welcome:

· Suggestions on what to include in future newsletters

· Suggestions on the newsletter format.

· Email addresses of USGS people who may be

interested in receiving copies of the newsletter.

(Note: subscribers will receive email notification of

future editions of the newsletter that will be posted

on a USGS website).

· Contributions toward upcoming events or U.S.

Geological Survey News (The editors of this

GeoHealth newsletter value any input through their

readers. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at anytime

and thank you for your replies.)

Contributing Editors - Ione L. Taylor and

Robert B. Finkelman

Editor - Joe Bunnell

Graphic Designer - Eric A. Morrissey

For questions, contributions, or suggestions

regarding any part of this newsletter, please contact:

Joe Bunnell: jbunnell@usgs.gov -- 703-648-6497.

For more information related to the topic of

GeoHealth, go to http://energy.er.usgs.gov and select the

"Medical Geology" logo link.

* The best ideas submitted will win

a special GeoHealth prize!*

11
ASK THE DOCTOR...

Q: Dear Dr. Pat Hologist,

What is GeoHealth?

~ Curious in Texas

A: Dear Curious,

GeoHealth is the scientific discipline that

examines the impacts of geologic materials and processes

on human and ecosystem health, includes both natural

and anthropogenic sources of potential health problems,

and implies that wildlife and plant diseases are not

excluded.

Many people attach great importance to

names. For most of us our name is the only thing that we

carry with us from the day we are born to the day we die

and beyond. Ideally, for a scientific discipline the name

defines who they are, what they do, and how they relate to

other disciplines. Yes, a name is important; nevertheless,

we should not get hung up over terminology. Whether we

refer to our activities as GeoHealth, Geoscience and

Public Health, Medical Geology, Epidemioecology,

Medical Geography, Medical Ecology, Clinical Ecology,

Environmental Medical Epidemiology, Geomedicine,

Geoepidemiology, Geology and Health, Geology,

Environment and Health, Medical Geography, Pathoecology, or Hydrobiogeochemoepidemiopathoecology,

we are all trying to accomplish the same thing. And that

is to apply our scientific skills, tools, databases, etc. to

helping the public health community solve a wide range

of environmental health problems.

We will probably be wrestling with terminology

for some time before we settle on a label but, rest assured,

we are not the only ones struggling with this issue. An

editorial will be appearing shortly in Environmental

Health Perspectives describes the birth pains of new

multidisciplinary fields such as Conservation Medicine,

Medical Geology, Ecological Medicine, and others. The

editorial concludes that “The name game will continue,

but, ... what really matters to those nurturing the field is

that all the affected professions should work together.”

The editors of this newsletter welcome:

· Suggestions on what to include in future newsletters

· Suggestions on the newsletter format.

· Email addresses of USGS people who may be

interested in receiving copies of the newsletter.

(Note: subscribers will receive email notification of

future editions of the newsletter that will be posted

on a USGS website).

· Contributions toward upcoming events or U.S.

Geological Survey News (The editors of this

GeoHealth newsletter value any input through their

readers. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at anytime

and thank you for your replies.)

Contributing Editors - Ione L. Taylor and

Robert B. Finkelman

Editor - Joe Bunnell

Graphic Designer - Eric A. Morrissey

For questions, contributions, or suggestions

regarding any part of this newsletter, please contact:

Joe Bunnell: jbunnell@usgs.gov -- 703-648-6497.

For more information related to the topic of

GeoHealth, go to http://energy.er.usgs.gov and select the

"Medical Geology" logo link.

* The best ideas submitted will win

a special GeoHealth prize!*

11
ASK THE DOCTOR...

Q: Dear Dr. Pat Hologist,

What is GeoHealth?

~ Curious in Texas

A: Dear Curious,

GeoHealth is the scientific discipline that

examines the impacts of geologic materials and processes

on human and ecosystem health, includes both natural

and anthropogenic sources of potential health problems,

and implies that wildlife and plant diseases are not

excluded.

Many people attach great importance to

names. For most of us our name is the only thing that we

carry with us from the day we are born to the day we die

and beyond. Ideally, for a scientific discipline the name

defines who they are, what they do, and how they relate to

other disciplines. Yes, a name is important; nevertheless,

we should not get hung up over terminology. Whether we

refer to our activities as GeoHealth, Geoscience and

Public Health, Medical Geology, Epidemioecology,

Medical Geography, Medical Ecology, Clinical Ecology,

Environmental Medical Epidemiology, Geomedicine,

Geoepidemiology, Geology and Health, Geology,

Environment and Health, Medical Geography, Pathoecology, or Hydrobiogeochemoepidemiopathoecology,

we are all trying to accomplish the same thing. And that

is to apply our scientific skills, tools, databases, etc. to

helping the public health community solve a wide range

of environmental health problems.

We will probably be wrestling with terminology

for some time before we settle on a label but, rest assured,

we are not the only ones struggling with this issue. An

editorial will be appearing shortly in Environmental

Health Perspectives describes the birth pains of new

multidisciplinary fields such as Conservation Medicine,

Medical Geology, Ecological Medicine, and others. The

editorial concludes that “The name game will continue,

but, ... what really matters to those nurturing the field is

that all the affected professions should work together.”

The editors of this newsletter welcome:

· Suggestions on what to include in future newsletters

· Suggestions on the newsletter format.

· Email addresses of USGS people who may be

interested in receiving copies of the newsletter.

(Note: subscribers will receive email notification of

future editions of the newsletter that will be posted

on a USGS website).

· Contributions toward upcoming events or U.S.

Geological Survey News (The editors of this

GeoHealth newsletter value any input through their

readers. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at anytime

and thank you for your replies.)

Contributing Editors - Ione L. Taylor and

Robert B. Finkelman

Editor - Joe Bunnell

Graphic Designer - Eric A. Morrissey

For questions, contributions, or suggestions

regarding any part of this newsletter, please contact:

Joe Bunnell: jbunnell@usgs.gov -- 703-648-6497.

For more information related to the topic of

GeoHealth, go to http://energy.er.usgs.gov and select the

"Medical Geology" logo link.

* The best ideas submitted will win

a special GeoHealth prize!*

11
ASK THE DOCTOR...

Q: Dear Dr. Pat Hologist,

What is GeoHealth?

~ Curious in Texas

A: Dear Curious,

GeoHealth is the scientific discipline that

examines the impacts of geologic materials and processes

on human and ecosystem health, includes both natural

and anthropogenic sources of potential health problems,

and implies that wildlife and plant diseases are not

excluded.

Many people attach great importance to

names. For most of us our name is the only thing that we

carry with us from the day we are born to the day we die

and beyond. Ideally, for a scientific discipline the name

defines who they are, what they do, and how they relate to

other disciplines. Yes, a name is important; nevertheless,

we should not get hung up over terminology. Whether we

refer to our activities as GeoHealth, Geoscience and

Public Health, Medical Geology, Epidemioecology,

Medical Geography, Medical Ecology, Clinical Ecology,

Environmental Medical Epidemiology, Geomedicine,

Geoepidemiology, Geology and Health, Geology,

Environment and Health, Medical Geography, Pathoecology, or Hydrobiogeochemoepidemiopathoecology,

we are all trying to accomplish the same thing. And that

is to apply our scientific skills, tools, databases, etc. to

helping the public health community solve a wide range

of environmental health problems.

We will probably be wrestling with terminology

for some time before we settle on a label but, rest assured,

we are not the only ones struggling with this issue. An

editorial will be appearing shortly in Environmental

Health Perspectives describes the birth pains of new

multidisciplinary fields such as Conservation Medicine,

Medical Geology, Ecological Medicine, and others. The

editorial concludes that “The name game will continue,

but, ... what really matters to those nurturing the field is

that all the affected professions should work together.”

The editors of this newsletter welcome:

· Suggestions on what to include in future newsletters

· Suggestions on the newsletter format.

· Email addresses of USGS people who may be

interested in receiving copies of the newsletter.

(Note: subscribers will receive email notification of

future editions of the newsletter that will be posted

on a USGS website).

· Contributions toward upcoming events or U.S.

Geological Survey News (The editors of this

GeoHealth newsletter value any input through their

readers. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at anytime

and thank you for your replies.)

Contributing Editors - Ione L. Taylor and

Robert B. Finkelman

Editor - Joe Bunnell

Graphic Designer - Eric A. Morrissey

For questions, contributions, or suggestions

regarding any part of this newsletter, please contact:

Joe Bunnell: jbunnell@usgs.gov -- 703-648-6497.

For more information related to the topic of

GeoHealth, go to http://energy.er.usgs.gov and select the

"Medical Geology" logo link.

* The best ideas submitted will win

a special GeoHealth prize!*

11
ASK THE DOCTOR...

Q: Dear Dr. Pat Hologist,

What is GeoHealth?

~ Curious in Texas

A: Dear Curious,

GeoHealth is the scientific discipline that

examines the impacts of geologic materials and processes

on human and ecosystem health, includes both natural

and anthropogenic sources of potential health problems,

and implies that wildlife and plant diseases are not

excluded.

Many people attach great importance to

names. For most of us our name is the only thing that we

carry with us from the day we are born to the day we die

and beyond. Ideally, for a scientific discipline the name

defines who they are, what they do, and how they relate to

other disciplines. Yes, a name is important; nevertheless,

we should not get hung up over terminology. Whether we

refer to our activities as GeoHealth, Geoscience and

Public Health, Medical Geology, Epidemioecology,

Medical Geography, Medical Ecology, Clinical Ecology,

Environmental Medical Epidemiology, Geomedicine,

Geoepidemiology, Geology and Health, Geology,

Environment and Health, Medical Geography, Pathoecology, or Hydrobiogeochemoepidemiopathoecology,

we are all trying to accomplish the same thing. And that

is to apply our scientific skills, tools, databases, etc. to

helping the public health community solve a wide range

of environmental health problems.

We will probably be wrestling with terminology

for some time before we settle on a label but, rest assured,

we are not the only ones struggling with this issue. An

editorial will be appearing shortly in Environmental

Health Perspectives describes the birth pains of new

multidisciplinary fields such as Conservation Medicine,

Medical Geology, Ecological Medicine, and others. The

editorial concludes that “The name game will continue,

but, ... what really matters to those nurturing the field is

that all the affected professions should work together.”

The editors of this newsletter welcome:

· Suggestions on what to include in future newsletters

· Suggestions on the newsletter format.

· Email addresses of USGS people who may be

interested in receiving copies of the newsletter.

(Note: subscribers will receive email notification of

future editions of the newsletter that will be posted

on a USGS website).

· Contributions toward upcoming events or U.S.

Geological Survey News (The editors of this

GeoHealth newsletter value any input through their

readers. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at anytime

and thank you for your replies.)

Contributing Editors - Ione L. Taylor and

Robert B. Finkelman

Editor - Joe Bunnell

Graphic Designer - Eric A. Morrissey

For questions, contributions, or suggestions

regarding any part of this newsletter, please contact:

Joe Bunnell: jbunnell@usgs.gov -- 703-648-6497.

For more information related to the topic of

GeoHealth, go to http://energy.er.usgs.gov and select the

"Medical Geology" logo link.

* The best ideas submitted will win

a special GeoHealth prize!*

11
ASK THE DOCTOR...

Q: Dear Dr. Pat Hologist,

What is GeoHealth?

~ Curious in Texas

A: Dear Curious,

GeoHealth is the scientific discipline that

examines the impacts of geologic materials and processes

on human and ecosystem health, includes both natural

and anthropogenic sources of potential health problems,

and implies that wildlife and plant diseases are not

excluded.

Many people attach great importance to

names. For most of us our name is the only thing that we

carry with us from the day we are born to the day we die

and beyond. Ideally, for a scientific discipline the name

defines who they are, what they do, and how they relate to

other disciplines. Yes, a name is important; nevertheless,

we should not get hung up over terminology. Whether we

refer to our activities as GeoHealth, Geoscience and

Public Health, Medical Geology, Epidemioecology,

Medical Geography, Medical Ecology, Clinical Ecology,

Environmental Medical Epidemiology, Geomedicine,

Geoepidemiology, Geology and Health, Geology,

Environment and Health, Medical Geography, Pathoecology, or Hydrobiogeochemoepidemiopathoecology,

we are all trying to accomplish the same thing. And that

is to apply our scientific skills, tools, databases, etc. to

helping the public health community solve a wide range

of environmental health problems.

We will probably be wrestling with terminology

for some time before we settle on a label but, rest assured,

we are not the only ones struggling with this issue. An

editorial will be appearing shortly in Environmental

Health Perspectives describes the birth pains of new

multidisciplinary fields such as Conservation Medicine,

Medical Geology, Ecological Medicine, and others. The

editorial concludes that “The name game will continue,

but, ... what really matters to those nurturing the field is

that all the affected professions should work together.”

The editors of this newsletter welcome:

· Suggestions on what to include in future newsletters

· Suggestions on the newsletter format.

· Email addresses of USGS people who may be

interested in receiving copies of the newsletter.

(Note: subscribers will receive email notification of

future editions of the newsletter that will be posted

on a USGS website).

· Contributions toward upcoming events or U.S.

Geological Survey News (The editors of this

GeoHealth newsletter value any input through their

readers. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at anytime

and thank you for your replies.)

Contributing Editors - Ione L. Taylor and

Robert B. Finkelman

Editor - Joe Bunnell

Graphic Designer - Eric A. Morrissey

For questions, contributions, or suggestions

regarding any part of this newsletter, please contact:

Joe Bunnell: jbunnell@usgs.gov -- 703-648-6497.

For more information related to the topic of

GeoHealth, go to http://energy.er.usgs.gov and select the

"Medical Geology" logo link.

* The best ideas submitted will win

a special GeoHealth prize!*

11
ASK THE DOCTOR...

Q: Dear Dr. Pat Hologist,

What is GeoHealth?

~ Curious in Texas

A: Dear Curious,

GeoHealth is the scientific discipline that

examines the impacts of geologic materials and processes

on human and ecosystem health, includes both natural

and anthropogenic sources of potential health problems,

and implies that wildlife and plant diseases are not

excluded.

Many people attach great importance to

names. For most of us our name is the only thing that we

carry with us from the day we are born to the day we die

and beyond. Ideally, for a scientific discipline the name

defines who they are, what they do, and how they relate to

other disciplines. Yes, a name is important; nevertheless,

we should not get hung up over terminology. Whether we

refer to our activities as GeoHealth, Geoscience and

Public Health, Medical Geology, Epidemioecology,

Medical Geography, Medical Ecology, Clinical Ecology,

Environmental Medical Epidemiology, Geomedicine,

Geoepidemiology, Geology and Health, Geology,

Environment and Health, Medical Geography, Pathoecology, or Hydrobiogeochemoepidemiopathoecology,

we are all trying to accomplish the same thing. And that

is to apply our scientific skills, tools, databases, etc. to

helping the public health community solve a wide range

of environmental health problems.

We will probably be wrestling with terminology

for some time before we settle on a label but, rest assured,

we are not the only ones struggling with this issue. An

editorial will be appearing shortly in Environmental

Health Perspectives describes the birth pains of new

multidisciplinary fields such as Conservation Medicine,

Medical Geology, Ecological Medicine, and others. The

editorial concludes that “The name game will continue,

but, ... what really matters to those nurturing the field is

that all the affected professions should work together.”

The editors of this newsletter welcome:

· Suggestions on what to include in future newsletters

· Suggestions on the newsletter format.

· Email addresses of USGS people who may be

interested in receiving copies of the newsletter.

(Note: subscribers will receive email notification of

future editions of the newsletter that will be posted

on a USGS website).

· Contributions toward upcoming events or U.S.

Geological Survey News (The editors of this

GeoHealth newsletter value any input through their

readers. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at anytime

and thank you for your replies.)

Contributing Editors - Ione L. Taylor and

Robert B. Finkelman

Editor - Joe Bunnell

Graphic Designer - Eric A. Morrissey

For questions, contributions, or suggestions

regarding any part of this newsletter, please contact:

Joe Bunnell: jbunnell@usgs.gov -- 703-648-6497.

For more information related to the topic of

GeoHealth, go to http://energy.er.usgs.gov and select the

"Medical Geology" logo link.

* The best ideas submitted will win

a special GeoHealth prize!*

11
ASK THE DOCTOR...

Q: Dear Dr. Pat Hologist,

What is GeoHealth?

~ Curious in Texas

A: Dear Curious,

GeoHealth is the scientific discipline that

examines the impacts of geologic materials and processes

on human and ecosystem health, includes both natural

and anthropogenic sources of potential health problems,

and implies that wildlife and plant diseases are not

excluded.

Many people attach great importance to

names. For most of us our name is the only thing that we

carry with us from the day we are born to the day we die

and beyond. Ideally, for a scientific discipline the name

defines who they are, what they do, and how they relate to

other disciplines. Yes, a name is important; nevertheless,

we should not get hung up over terminology. Whether we

refer to our activities as GeoHealth, Geoscience and

Public Health, Medical Geology, Epidemioecology,

Medical Geography, Medical Ecology, Clinical Ecology,

Environmental Medical Epidemiology, Geomedicine,

Geoepidemiology, Geology and Health, Geology,

Environment and Health, Medical Geography, Pathoecology, or Hydrobiogeochemoepidemiopathoecology,

we are all trying to accomplish the same thing. And that

is to apply our scientific skills, tools, databases, etc. to

helping the public health community solve a wide range

of environmental health problems.

We will probably be wrestling with terminology

for some time before we settle on a label but, rest assured,

we are not the only ones struggling with this issue. An

editorial will be appearing shortly in Environmental

Health Perspectives describes the birth pains of new

multidisciplinary fields such as Conservation Medicine,

Medical Geology, Ecological Medicine, and others. The

editorial concludes that “The name game will continue,

but, ... what really matters to those nurturing the field is

that all the affected professions should work together.”

The editors of this newsletter welcome:

· Suggestions on what to include in future newsletters

· Suggestions on the newsletter format.

· Email addresses of USGS people who may be

interested in receiving copies of the newsletter.

(Note: subscribers will receive email notification of

future editions of the newsletter that will be posted

on a USGS website).

· Contributions toward upcoming events or U.S.

Geological Survey News (The editors of this

GeoHealth newsletter value any input through their

readers. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at anytime

and thank you for your replies.)

Contributing Editors - Ione L. Taylor and

Robert B. Finkelman

Editor - Joe Bunnell

Graphic Designer - Eric A. Morrissey

For questions, contributions, or suggestions

regarding any part of this newsletter, please contact:

Joe Bunnell: jbunnell@usgs.gov -- 703-648-6497.

For more information related to the topic of

GeoHealth, go to http://energy.er.usgs.gov and select the

"Medical Geology" logo link.

* The best ideas submitted will win

a special GeoHealth prize!*

11
ASK THE DOCTOR...

Q: Dear Dr. Pat Hologist,

What is GeoHealth?

~ Curious in Texas

A: Dear Curious,

GeoHealth is the scientific discipline that

examines the impacts of geologic materials and processes

on human and ecosystem health, includes both natural

and anthropogenic sources of potential health problems,

and implies that wildlife and plant diseases are not

excluded.

Many people attach great importance to

names. For most of us our name is the only thing that we

carry with us from the day we are born to the day we die

and beyond. Ideally, for a scientific discipline the name

defines who they are, what they do, and how they relate to

other disciplines. Yes, a name is important; nevertheless,

we should not get hung up over terminology. Whether we

refer to our activities as GeoHealth, Geoscience and

Public Health, Medical Geology, Epidemioecology,

Medical Geography, Medical Ecology, Clinical Ecology,

Environmental Medical Epidemiology, Geomedicine,

Geoepidemiology, Geology and Health, Geology,

Environment and Health, Medical Geography, Pathoecology, or Hydrobiogeochemoepidemiopathoecology,

we are all trying to accomplish the same thing. And that

is to apply our scientific skills, tools, databases, etc. to

helping the public health community solve a wide range

of environmental health problems.

We will probably be wrestling with terminology

for some time before we settle on a label but, rest assured,

we are not the only ones struggling with this issue. An

editorial will be appearing shortly in Environmental

Health Perspectives describes the birth pains of new

multidisciplinary fields such as Conservation Medicine,

Medical Geology, Ecological Medicine, and others. The

editorial concludes that “The name game will continue,

but, ... what really matters to those nurturing the field is

that all the affected professions should work together.”

The editors of this newsletter welcome:

· Suggestions on what to include in future newsletters

· Suggestions on the newsletter format.

· Email addresses of USGS people who may be

interested in receiving copies of the newsletter.

(Note: subscribers will receive email notification of

future editions of the newsletter that will be posted

on a USGS website).

· Contributions toward upcoming events or U.S.

Geological Survey News (The editors of this

GeoHealth newsletter value any input through their

readers. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at anytime

and thank you for your replies.)

Contributing Editors - Ione L. Taylor and

Robert B. Finkelman

Editor - Joe Bunnell

Graphic Designer - Eric A. Morrissey

For questions, contributions, or suggestions

regarding any part of this newsletter, please contact:

Joe Bunnell: jbunnell@usgs.gov -- 703-648-6497.

For more information related to the topic of

GeoHealth, go to http://energy.er.usgs.gov and select the

"Medical Geology" logo link.

* The best ideas submitted will win

a special GeoHealth prize!*

11
ASK THE DOCTOR...

Q: Dear Dr. Pat Hologist,

What is GeoHealth?

~ Curious in Texas

A: Dear Curious,

GeoHealth is the scientific discipline that

examines the impacts of geologic materials and processes

on human and ecosystem health, includes both natural

and anthropogenic sources of potential health problems,

and implies that wildlife and plant diseases are not

excluded.

Many people attach great importance to

names. For most of us our name is the only thing that we

carry with us from the day we are born to the day we die

and beyond. Ideally, for a scientific discipline the name

defines who they are, what they do, and how they relate to

other disciplines. Yes, a name is important; nevertheless,

we should not get hung up over terminology. Whether we

refer to our activities as GeoHealth, Geoscience and

Public Health, Medical Geology, Epidemioecology,

Medical Geography, Medical Ecology, Clinical Ecology,

Environmental Medical Epidemiology, Geomedicine,

Geoepidemiology, Geology and Health, Geology,

Environment and Health, Medical Geography, Pathoecology, or Hydrobiogeochemoepidemiopathoecology,

we are all trying to accomplish the same thing. And that

is to apply our scientific skills, tools, databases, etc. to

helping the public health community solve a wide range

of environmental health problems.

We will probably be wrestling with terminology

for some time before we settle on a label but, rest assured,

we are not the only ones struggling with this issue. An

editorial will be appearing shortly in Environmental

Health Perspectives describes the birth pains of new

multidisciplinary fields such as Conservation Medicine,

Medical Geology, Ecological Medicine, and others. The

editorial concludes that “The name game will continue,

but, ... what really matters to those nurturing the field is

that all the affected professions should work together.”

The editors of this newsletter welcome:

· Suggestions on what to include in future newsletters

· Suggestions on the newsletter format.

· Email addresses of USGS people who may be

interested in receiving copies of the newsletter.

(Note: subscribers will receive email notification of

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· Contributions toward upcoming events or U.S.

Geological Survey News (The editors of this

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and thank you for your replies.)

Contributing Editors - Ione L. Taylor and

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Joe Bunnell: jbunnell@usgs.gov -- 703-648-6497.

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