In June-July 2001 we had a workshop in Zambia as a part of the IGCP project 454 on Medical Geology. The Lusaka Workshop was born from a resolution made at the first meeting held at the Silver Springs Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, from 23 to 27 June 1999. The Role of Geomedicine in the 21 st Century. The Workshop was held in Lusaka from June 28 July 1, 2001. Metal ions occur naturally in rocks, soils, gases, and waters in both harmless and harmful forms and concentrations.
Some natural concentrations can be extraordinarily high and have caused serious health problems.
Dermal toxicity results from local tissue responses through direct contact of the metal with skin, or alternatively, may represent a manifestation of systemic toxicity following ingestion or inhalation. The adverse cutaneous reactions resulting from chronic ingestion or inhalation of arsenical compounds exemplify systemic toxicity. The aim of this Seminar is to provide examples where both deficiencies of trace elements as well as toxic exposures of metals may be involved in physiologic changes and the development of human diseases. Studies associated with lung cancer risk in an occupational cohort of chromate production workers will be described. An overview of clinical aspects of toxic metal exposures including discussions of essentiality and clinical manifestations will be presented.