Sessions

The use of minerals as ingredients of Health care products is a classical and active subject of research and industrial use. Phyllosilicates, but also zeolites and carbonates have been proposed to be used by the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry and new and advanced applications have been proposed in the recent years. Some minerals are main constituent of classical health care products as peloids. To be used these materials must comply with quality requirements and sometimes formulated with other ingredients or modified to improve their properties. The session will cover the classical and potential applications of minerals as health care materials in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products.

Cesar Viseras | University of Granada | Spain | cviseras@ugr.es

There is an increase incidence of biominerals formation in people of all ages causing diseases (from gallstones to atherosclerosis, from renal lithiasis to pseudogout, to osteoarthrosis, to oral diseases). One of the main focuses is to determine whether nucleation is essentially homogeneous and takes place spontaneously from highly supersaturated body fluids or whether it is heterogeneous and is initiated by some other agents such as trace elements and bacteria.
The session aims to highlight studies on mechanism of formation and chemical/mineralogical analysis of pathological minerals and epidemiology.

Scientific Committee | International Network of Geohealth Scientists (INGS) | Italy | info@geoheath-scientists.org

The first investigation on nanominerals in human bloods was performed on humans living in territories with nuclear technogenesis (Tomsk and Semipalatinsk regions, Russian Federation). It documented the presence of nanominerals and extraneous chemical elements that deserve a great attention of environmental and health scientists. The session will be a forum to discuss factors and conditions that are able to control the transfer of chemical elements and nanominerals from the environment to the living systems. It can be an excellent opportunity to plan a world data base of nanominerals and chemical elements in human blood from, but not limited to, territories with nuclear technogenesis.

Natalia Baranovskaya | Tomsk Polytechnic University | Russian Federation | nata@tpu.ru

The problem of emerging pollutants must be treated from a scientific perspective to solve this environmental problem. The pharmaceutical and food industries expel substances in small concentrations that cannot be eliminated with current techniques by wastewater treatment plants. Nanoclays can be used in barrier technologies for this purpose and solve, in this way, this important problem for public health.

Carmen Del Hoyo Martinez | University of Salamanca | Spain | hoyo@usal.es
Dolores Pereira | University of Salamanca | Spain | mdp@usal.es

Detailed characterization of mineral-particle populations is essential for improving our understanding of toxicity. Characteristics that may determine the fate and toxicity of mineral particles in biological and environmental systems include dimensional distribution, morphometry, fractal dimensions, bulk and surface chemistry, and physical properties. Assessment of the important roles that these parameters may play in determining the hazard represented by a homogenous or heterogenous mineral-particle population is fundamental to the risk evaluation in both natural and anthropic environments. Furthermore, the study of the contribution of each of these parameters and variables in a complex system provides essential tools to build solid toxicity- and impact-evaluation models. This session welcomes studies dedicated to the collection, characterization, and modeling of complex particle populations. Particular attention will be paid to multi-analytical approaches, advanced electron microscopy, and spectroscopy methods. Furthermore, we invite contributions in the areas of segmentation and learning, machine learning, and neural-network approaches that allow to speed up the characterization process and improve the quality of the characterization of morphometrically and chemically complex particle populations.

Reto Gieré | University of Pennsylvania | United States | giere@sas.upenn.edu
Ruggero Vigliaturo | University of Pennsylvania | United States | ruggero@sas.upenn.edu

In the last decade, many researchers have focused on asbestos minerals with the aim to assess and monitor their potential as natural material dangerous for the environment and human health. Asbestos is classified as a carcinogen material of Category 1 by the World Health authorities. Its toxicity has been related to morphological, size and chemical-physical features of crystals. This session welcome contributions on petrology, mineralogy and geochemistry of the rocks containing naturally occurring asbestos, and other geo-matrices interacting with them. The main aim is to provide new data and new research perspectives to a world-wide scientific audience that more and more often is called to support the local organizations about the comprehension of (natural) geological hazards and the management of sites and water resources dangerous for human health.

Giovanna Rizzo | Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata - Potenza (Italy) | Italy | giovanna.rizzo@unibas.it
Rosa Sinisi | Istituto di Metodologie per l'Analisi Ambientale, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Tito Scalo (Italy) | Italy | rosa.sinisi@imaa.cnr.it

Mechanochemical processes involving natural minerals were shown to afford pathways alternative to conventional wet chemical processes, both in the the chemical industry and in the remediation of polluted environmental systems. The field of mechanochemistry is presently fast growing as attested, for example, by scores of scientific papers published in recent years on the topic. This session solicits contributions on mechanochemical processes developed on the whole world, from a wide community of scientists

Organising Committee | International Network of GeoHealth Scientists (INGS) | Italy | info@geohealth-scientists.org

In the last years there was a particular attention to environmental protection and sustainability. In this framework, metal nanoparticles supported on polymeric system are consider as new promising materials given their widely applications as recyclable catalysts in heterogeneous and biphasic catalysis. In this session we welcome contributions on methods to provide polymeric matrix-supports able to stabilize metal complexes, to control formation, morphology and structure of nanoparticles. Contributions related to nanoparticles applications under sustainable conditions are also welcome.

Ambra M. Fiore | Polytechnic University of Bari | Italy | ambrafiore@gmail.com
Piero Mastrorilli | Polytechnic University of Bari | Italy | pietro.mastrorilli@poliba.it

Italy is a young geological area in which numerous geological processes are very active and affect human health. Many cases are known for their impact on air, water and soil quality from rural areas to urban areas. Italy also has a rather long tradition in the modern study of the links between environment and health and even a scientific association (AGMItalia) has started to operate in this field for ten years. The impact of legal and non-legal human activities in Italy is also significant for human health. Medical geology is strongly involved in the study of the effect of pathologies induced by specific environmental causes and by multifactorial phenomena, including those linked to climate change.

Rodolfo Coccioni | University of Urbino Carlo Bo | Italy | rodolfo.coccioni@uniurb.it
Fabio Tateo | National Research Council of Italy - Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources - Padova | Italy | tateo@igg.cnr.it Paolo Valera | University of Cagliari - Department of Civil-Environmental Engineering and Architecture | Italy | pvalera@unica.it

This session is aimed at uniting a unique audience of medical geology scientists, climate scientists, atmospheric scientists, epidemiologists, public health specialists, and policy makers. The goal is to gain a deeper understanding of the consequence of climatic fluctuations and nature environmental risk factors on human health, including the effects of extreme weather events, disrupted ecosystems, emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, and increased levels of harmful air particulates. We hope that this session encourages a lively, informed an synergistic interaction about the latest research and major challenges in this important field.

Jose A. Centeno | International Medical Geology Association | United States | tonycent@comcast.net
Saverio Fiore | Institute of Methodologies for Environmental Analysis | Italy | saverio.fiore@cnr.it

A detailed geochemical survey has been completed in the whole Campania Region of Italy, which included the collection and analysis of different sample media (top and bottom soil; water; vegetation; biological; human tissues). The results allowed the precise characterisation of the region, and the reliable assessment of health-related issues caused by the presence of anthropogenic pollution. This multi-media survey provides sound and transparent information to the Campania citizens, separating ‘emotions' from scientific knowledge. In this context, we would like to stimulate a discussion, not only within the scientific community but also with stakeholders and decision-makers, on the methods used and the generated results, so that similar surveys to be applied in other regions, not only Italy.

Benedetto De Vivo | Università Pegaso, Napoli, Italy | Italy | bdevivo@unina.it
Alecos Demetriades | Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration (IGME) | Greece | alecos.demetriades@gmail.com
Gyozo Jordan | Institute for Geological and Geochemical Research, Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences | Hungary | gyozo.jordan@gmail.com

Rocks and minerals extraction impacts human health, soils, waters and atmosphere. This is due to inputs of potentially dangerous elements and particulates. This session aims to host contributions on the most recent knowledge of mining techniques, highlight areas of specific concerns, and promising actions aimed to the environmental protection. Contributions on the issues related to deep sea mining are truly welcome.

Organising Committee | International Network of GeoHealth Scientists (INGS) | Italy | info@geohealth-scientists.org

Geochemical contamination is of concern in many countries regardless the level of local socio-economic development. The session aims at collecting contributions focusing on the presentation of both the design and the results obtained by survey activities carried out at different geographical scales (from local to regional/continental). Contributions having as a goal the assessment of environmental (Human or ecological) risks by means of innovative methods including geospatial analysis and stochastic approaches are strongly encouraged.

Stefano Albanese | Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II | Italy | stefano.albanese@unina.it
Domenico Cicchella | Università degli Studi del Sannio | Italy | cidom@unisannio.it
Giancarlo Ciotoli | Istituto di Geologia Ambientale e Geoingegneria - CNR | Italy | giancarlo.ciotoli@igag.cnr.it
Daniela Zuzolo | Università degli Studi del Sannio | Italy | dzuzolo@unisannio.it

Research on radon, its progeny and health effects has been conducted all over the world. It has been highlighted that interdisciplinary scientific collaborations is the correct way for gaining information on the radon hazard assessment. This session welcome contributions from geochemists, physicists, geologists, physicians… for discussing and sharing ideas and knowledge on the influence of geology on radon emission, health implications, measuring and mitigation methods, and its areal representation using geostatistical simulations.

Stefano Albanese | Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II | Italy | stefano.albanese@unina.it
Domenico Cicchella | Università degli Studi del Sannio | Italy | cidom@unisannio.it
Giancarlo Ciotoli | Istituto di Geologia Ambientale e Geoingegneria - CNR | Italy | giancarlo.ciotoli@igag.cnr.it

Geologists involved in occupational health and safety are used to deal with several problems due to risk agents’ exposure naturally outcropping or contained in products and artifacts. Workers’ risk assessment linked to the presence of asbestos, radon or silica is a typical theme of industrial hygiene. Geologists’ contribution is essential not only to define the survey best practises but, over all, to identify and apply the adequate preventive and protective actions to take care of workers’ health in different working environments. In this session risk assessment and the main techniques and organizational solutions to eliminate or reduce working exposure will be presented

Bianca Rimoldi | INAIL | Italy | b.rimoldi@inail.it
Paolo Valera | DICAAR - Department of Civil-Environmental Engineering and Architecture University of Cagliari | Italy | pvalera@unica.it
Fabrizio Benedetti | INAIL | Italy |

In the Roman Empire, lead (Pb) was a valuable and abundant metal with a great variety of uses, as documented by historical sources and antiquities, including bone fossils from archaeological sites. The dependence of the Empire on this metal pervaded almost every aspect of Roman life. However, as we learned more about the potential toxicity of Pb over time, the widespread use of Pb led to sensational claims by modern researchers that Pb exposure may have contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire through its ubiquitous use in aqueducts, water pipes, household implements, medicine, and even in wine as a sweeting agent (Pb acetate).
Still today, many believe Pb poisoning to be an old risk that was largely eliminated decades ago globally and in the United States with the banning of Pb-based paint and the conversion to unleaded gas. However, the events of 2014 in Flint, Michigan (USA) placed Pb poisoning in the forefront once again with a doubling of the rates of elevated blood lead levels (EBLLs). Recent studies concluded that childhood Pb poisoning remains a real risk that still affects many children, mostly those living in poor urban neighborhoods. Ongoing research has well documented the consequences of Pb exposure, including brain injury in early life, loss of IQ points, shortening of attention span, and anti-social behavioral patterns. Because the human brain has little capacity for repair, these effects are untreatable and often irreversible. These risks continue to prey on young children today and, especially during the developmental years (0-6 years), may cause reduced brain function and lifelong impairment to both academic and social skills. Our session will bring together environmental scientists, environmental health researchers, policy/decision-makers, and public health professionals who work every day to lower risks to affected populations, especially children. The session will focus on the characterization of global Pb sources (e.g., Pb-based paints and pigments, mining, smelting, drinking water systems, Pb-contaminated food, ceramic glazes, soils, dust, waste incineration, electronic waste), present risk-assessment approaches based on environmental and health science data, and identify barriers that must be addressed to translate risk reduction strategies into effective public policy.

Richard Pepino | University of Pennsylvania | United States | rpepino@sas.upenn.edu
Reto Gieré | University of Pennsylvania | United States | giere@sas.upenn.edu

Variations in relief energy induced by climatic and sea level changes determine a strong land instability. All these last are among the most important geohazards and they are the mission of several scientific, social, and political studies. The current scenario is at alarming levels and a close interaction between scientists and decision makers is mandatory. This session will be a forum to discuss and learn about factors, causes and consequences of sea level changes (coastal erosion, wetland flooding, aquifer and soil salinisation) and land instability (ground investigation, landslides, monitoring and stabilisation of the areas severely affected by land instability issues) and their impact on human being and total environment. Contributions related to the effects of human activities in enhancing these geological disasters are also welcome.

Giuseppe Mastronuzzi | Dept. Earth and Geoenvironmental Sciences - University of Bari | Italy | giuseppeantonio.mastronuzzi@uniba.it
Fausto Guzzetti | Research Institute for Geo-Hydrological Protection - CNR | Italy | fausto.guzzetti@irpi.cnr.it

In this session we will consider the presence of trace elements in the environment, the exposure of living beings to these elements and possible effects on health. The trace elements are present in different forms in nature and can be divided into essential for an organism, potentially essential, and finally toxic. Disorders in the homeostasis of trace elements can cause or contribute to the development of pathological states.

Patrizia Zavattari | University of Cagliari | Italy | pzavattari@unica.it
Paolo Valera | University of Cagliari | Italy | pvalera@unica.it

This symposium covers any other topic not included in the Sessions listed above.

Organising Committee | International Network of GeoHealth Scientists (INGS) | Italy | info@geohealth-scientists.org