The First International Symposium on Medical Geology

First Circular & Call for Papers

Invitation & Aim
It is an honor that the "First International Symposium on medical geology" is going to be held in Tehran, Iran (June 14-16, 2010) with the assistance of the Iranian National Committee for UNESCO, Shiraz University, Tehran University, Research Center for Gastroenterology & Liver Diseases, Ministry of Health and Medical Education (Health Deputy), Nuclear Science and Technology Research Center of Iran, Institute of Cancer, Environment Research Center, Veterinary organization of Iran, the Water and Wastewater Engineering Companies of Iran, Soil and Water Research Institute (Ministry of Jihad-e-Agriculture), and the International Medical Geology Association (IMGA).
The idea for organizing this symposium came from the project of "Studying effective geological risk factors in cancer incidence on Central Asian esophageal cancer belt” that is collaboration between the Geological Survey of Iran and UNESCO in the context of IGCP partnership project to achieve the following goals:  

1. Reducing effects of geogenic risk factors on health
2. Raising public awareness about impacts of geological factors on health
3. Drawing attention of decision-makers to the geosciences as a major effective factor on public health
4. Improving society's public health as a major factor in reaching sustainable development
5. Cooperating among the geoscientists and medical scientists

Our intention for the symposium is to provide a qualified platform for presentation of activities in different fields of medical geology (environmental and human health).
The Symposium is intended for geologists, geochemists, hydrologists, veterinarians, ecologists, chemists, biologists, occupational and environmental scientists, medical professionals, toxicologists, epidemiologists, environmental pathologists, bio-statisticians and any other health, environmental and geo-sciences professionals who are interested on medical geology issues.

The scientific topics of the symposium are as follows:

1. Micronutrients deficiency (selenium, zinc, etc.) and health problems
2. Understanding natural and anthropogenic sources, transport and fate of toxic metal ions in the environment
3. Environmental geochemistry; determination of trace and toxic elements distribution by geochemical and bio-geochemical mapping
4. Potential link between natural radio nuclides and diseases
5. Hydrogeochemical studies; toxic elements release and transport mechanisms.

-  Geobotany; geological role of the plants (esp. crops) in engagement of elements into food chains

1.    Role of the geological factors in health problems (human and animals)
2.    Occupational health and effect of mining activities on human and animal health
3.    Metal ions in biology and medicine
4.    Environmental toxicology, ecology and medical geology
5.    Environmental microbiology
6.    GIS in human and animal diseases (Preparation of medical geology atlas)
7.    Natural environmental toxicology
8.    Natural aerosolic mineral dust and human health
9.    Medical geography; studying diseases epidemiology
10.   Analytical methods for the study of trace elements and toxic metal ions in geological and   biological samples
11.   Analytical methods for determining organo-pollutants in soil, water and plant   samples
12.   Geo-environmental risk factors in cancer incidence

Colleagues who have been working on the above-mentioned subjects and who would like to start their career in this field are all cordially invited to participate in the symposium. Your contributions will be highly appreciated. Conference executers are as follows:

Organizing Committee
Chairman: Farah Rahmany (Manager of Medical Geology Dep., GSI) Farahrahmany@gsi.ir
Vice Chairman: Parisa Piroozfar (Medical Geology Dep., GSI) parisapiroozfar@gsi.ir

Organizing Secretaries:
S. H. M. Meyguni (Director of International Affairs Dep., GSI) International@gsi.ir
Hamideh Mohammadi (International Dep., GSI) H_muhammadi@gsi.ir

Scientific Committee (geology):
Dr. Olle Selinus (Geological Survey of Sweden and IMGA co-chair for geoscience)
Dr. Farid Moore (Shiraz University, Iran)
Dr. Shahin Zare (Tehran University, Iran)
Dr. Abdolmajid Yaghoubpour (Tarbiat-Moalem University, Iran)
Dr. Mohammad Reza Ghassemi (Deputy Director for Geology, GSI)
Dr. Manouchehr Ghorashi (Senior Advisor, GSI)
Dr.Mohammad Ghanadi (Head of Nuclear Science and Technology Research Center, Iran)
Dr. Ali Asghar Ghane (Deputy of Monitoring Operation, Ministry of Energy, Iran)

Scientific Committee (medicine):
Dr. Reza Malekzadeh (Tehran University, Director of Digestive Disease Research Center of Iran)
Dr. Vahid Otarod (DVM, Epidemiologist, Veterinary organization of Iran)
Dr. Simin Naseri (Tehran University, Iran)
Dr. Ali Hadidi (G.P and Homeopath)
Dr. Farideh Golbabaie (Tehran University, Iran)
Dr. Ali Reza Mousavi-Jarrahi  (Shahid Beheshti University, Iran)

Date & Venue
The technical session of the symposium will be held at the Geological Survey of Iran (GSI), Tehran, Iran.
14-16 June 2010:          Scientific session of the symposium
13 June, 2010               Arrival of participants

Important Dates
20th January, 2010        Deadline for abstract/paper submission 
4th February, 2010        Distribution of the Second Circular, and Acceptance
4th April, 2010              Deadline for full paper submission

Official Language & Scientific Program
The official language of the symposium is English. The scientific session venue will be provided with computers and LCD projector. Participants who wish to make poster presentations are recommended to prepare their posters with dimensions of 84 x 119 cm or 33 x 47 in (A0).

Abstract and Manuscript Submission
Participants who wish to give oral and/or poster presentation must submit an extended abstract of their presentation. Detailed information on full paper format will be announced in the Second Circular. The deadline for abstract/manuscript submission is January 20, 2010.

Fees
GSI will cover food and accommodation costs for the symposium period.

Exchange Rate
The exchange rate of Iranian Rial against US dollar at the moment is about 9980 IR=US$1.

Visa
An official invitation letter for applying entry visa to Iran will be sent by the organizing secretaries to registrant on request.

Contact Information
Please address all correspondence and inquiries related to the symposium to: