Databases in medical geology
On this page there will be links to geochemical maps and databases which could be used for research in medical geology.
Click on the image above to see it in detail!
FOREGS Geochemical atlas of Europe
Salminen R (Chief-editor)
Geochemical Atlas of Europe. Part 1 - Background Information, Methodology and
Maps.
The IUGS/IAGC Global Geochemical Baselines Programme aims to establish a global
geochemical reference baseline for >60 determinants in a range of media for
environmental and other applications. The European contribution to the programme
has been carried out by government institutions from 26 countries under the
auspices of the Forum of European Geological Surveys (FOREGS) The main objectives
of this European survey were: 1) to apply standardised methods of sampling,
chemical analysis and data management to prepare a geochemical baseline across
Europe; and 2) to use this reference network to level national baseline datasets.Samples
of stream water, stream sediment and three types of soil (organic top layer,
minerogenic top and sub soil) have been collected at 900 stations, each representing
a catchment area of 100 km2, corresponding to a sampling density of about one
sample per 4700 km2. In addition, the uppermost 25 cm of floodplain sediment
was sampled from 790 sites each representing a catchment area of 1000 km2. All
soil and sediment samples were prepared at the same laboratory, and all samples
of particular sample types were analysed by the same method at the same laboratory.
More than 50 elements, both total and aqua regia extractable concentrations,
and other parameters (such as pH and grain size) were determined on the <2
mm grain size fraction of minerogenic samples, and total concentrations of organic
soil samples were measured after using a strong acid digestion. Nine laboratories
of European geological surveys carried out the analytical work. Altogether,
360 geochemical maps showing the distribution of elements across Europe have
been prepared. All the results and field observations are organised in a common
database and the maps are published as a Geochemical Atlas of Europe. All the
sampling sites were photographed and this photo archive is also available. Samples
have been archived in the Slovak Republic for possible future use. Initial results
show that the distribution patterns of both water and solid samples are related
to such factors as large-scale tectonic provinces, geochemical variation of
large lithological units, extension of the Weichselian glaciation, and contamination
reflecting industrialized areas and regions of intensive agriculture.
http://www.gsf.fi/foregs/geochem/
Below are two links to the FOREGS project. This is the most extensive environmental database covering the whole of Europe. It is completely new and you can explore the maps with this link. The complete database with all analytical data will soon be accessible on the web also.
http://www.gtk.fi/publ/foregsatlas/part2.php
http://www.gsf.fi/publ/foregsatlas/map_compare.html
Baltic Soil Survey
Baltic soil survey: total concentrations of major and selected trace elements
in arable soils from 10 countries around the Baltic Sea.
Reimann C, Siewers U, Tarvainen T, Bityukova L, Eriksson J, Gilucis A, Gregorauskiene
V, Lukashev V, Matinian NN, Pasieczna A.
Geological Survey of Norway, Trondheim. clemens.reimann@ngu.no
Agricultural soils were collected from 10 European countries over a 1,800,000
km2 area surrounding the Baltic Sea. The sampling density was 1 site/2500 km2.
Two samples were taken at each site: topsoil 0-25 cm (ploughing layer, Ap-horizon)
and subsoil (bottom samples, usually B- or C-horizon) at an approximate depth
of 50-75 cm, well below the ploughed layer. The samples were analysed for total
element concentrations of 41 elements by WD-XRF. Analytical results for both
layers are quite comparable. Large differences between element concentrations
and variations can be observed for most elements when the different countries
are compared. The Nordic countries show considerably higher concentrations and
variations for quite a number of elements [Al, Fe, (Mg, P), Ti, Ba, Sc, Sr,
V] in their agricultural soils. This is an expression of geology, the relatively
younger age of the soils here and of the climatic conditions (reduced weathering
rates). Regional geochemical maps demonstrate that geology overwhelmingly dominates
the total concentration of chemical elements as observed in the agricultural
soils. The three (four) large tectonic units (Caledonian mountain chain, Fennoscandian
Shield and the northern and southern eastern European Platform) composing this
area are all reflected in the regional maps.
The database can be downloaded free after request.
Kola Ecogeochemistry Project
An Environmental Investigation in Arctic Europe
The «Kola Ecogeochemistry» Project is concerned with: regional mapping
of heavy metals and radioactivity pollution of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems
an area of 188,000 km2 in the Barents Region, sulphur and trace element deposition,
the impact of major industrial activity in the western Kola Peninsula, the degradation
of a particularly vulnerable arctic environment.
For more information see http://www.ngu.no/kola/