The short course in Vilnius, Lithuania was a great success with more than 60 participants. The course was opened by the Minister of Environment of Lithuania.

Besides the very course programme (lectures, presentations, discussions,
excursion etc) I would like to stress some additional outputs of
the course:

1) High interest of the medical scientists about the Medical geology topic,
illustrated a number of attendees - (amongst 53 permanent participants (on
the list) plus 6 temporal) there were 17 medical specialists.

2) Jonas Satkunas and Olle gave interviews to national radio programme and weekly
journal "Health"

3) We have been invited and visited following institutions:

3.1) Paediatrics Centre of the Vilnius University Clinics. Invited by
Associated professor Vaidotas Urbonas (on the list of participants)
and head of this Centre - prof. Vytautas Usonis. At the meeting, in which
some 20 leading specialists of this Centre took part, Jose and Bob gave
lectures on Medical geology, that followed by discussions and expression of
interest for further contacts and exchange of information.

3.2) Law University of Lithuania, Institute of Forensic Medicine. Invited
by Prof. Gediminas Zukauskas, deputy director and Ass. prof. Alvydas
Pauliukevicius, Director of the Institute. The Laboratories and activities
of the Institute were presented. At the following discussion Bob and Jose
gave presentation of Medical geology and AFIP's activities. Jose was
invited to give lectures at the Institute during the next visit to Lithuania.

3.3) Medical faculty of the Vilnius University. Meeting of Vice dean Ass.
prof. Rimantas Stukas and Ass. prof. Saulius Vainauskas. Mr Stukas will
send to Jose list of scientific research programmes of the Faculty related
with health and the environment for identification of common interests for
further cooperation. Jose was invited to gave several lectures on Medical
geology during the next visit to Vilnius in September.

3.4) Department of Hydrogeology and Engineering geology of Vilnius
University, meeting with prof. Vytautas Juodkazis. High interest on Medical
geology and big value of the materials of the Medical geology course, that
could be used for teaching on Environmental hydrogeology was addmited by
Juodkazis. Bob promised to send to him materials in digital shape.

3.5) Geological Survey of Lithuania. The possibility of provision of
methology of risk assessment of potential polluted sites from AFIP was
discussed at Hydrogeology division. Director Mockevicius approved proposal
that Geological Survey of Lithuania could take active role (coordination by
Satkunas and Gregorauskiene) in forming of regional working group of the
IUGS Special Initiative on Medical Geology.

May 26-28, 2003
Hotel Centrum, Vilnius, Lithuania

Day 1: Monday May 26, 2003
8.00-9.00 REGISTRATION
9.00-9.15 OPENING ADDRESSES BY MR.EDUARDAS BARTKEVICIUS UNDERSECRETARY OF HEALTH, REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA
MR. ARUNAS CEPELE, DIRECTOR OF DEPARTMENT OF QUALITY OF ENVIRONMENT, MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA
9.15 – 9.30 Objectives and Short Description of the Course
Dr. Olle Selinus, SGU and Dr. Jose A. Centeno, AFIP
9.30-10.15 Medical Geology: An emerging discipline in environmental and human health.
Dr. Robert B. Finkelman, USGS and Dr. Olle Selinus, SGU
10.15-10.30 Coffee break
A. Environmental Health: Sources of Exposure and Effects of Toxic Metal Ion
10.30-11.15 The Diversity of Trace Elements and Toxic Metal Ions in Environmental Health and Human Diseases:
Dr. José A. Centeno, AFIP
11.15-12.00 Natural and Anthropogenic Sources, Transport and Fate of Toxic Metal Ions in the Environment
Dr. Robert B. Finkelman, USGS
12.00-12.15 Discussion and General Remarks
12.15-13.15 LUNCH
B. Environmental Pathology, Geochemical Studies and Health Effects.
13.15-14.00 An Overview of Health Impacts of Coal and Coal Use: Arsenicosis and Fluorosis
Dr. Robert B. Finkelman, USGS
14.00-14.45 An Introduction and Overview to Chronic Arsenic Poisoning: Natural History, Toxicology and Health Effects
Dr. José A. Centeno, AFIP
14.45-15.15 Coffee break
Presentations of the Course participants
15:15 –15:35 Groundwater resources and quality in Lithuania
Dr Kestutis Kadunas, LGT
15:35 – 15:50 Drinking water – safety issues in Lithuania.
Ilona Drulyte, National Nutrition Centre of the Ministry of Health, Republic of Lithuania
15.50 -16.15 Discussion
Dr. José A. Centeno, AFIP

18:00-20:30 Ice break party at Geological Survey of Lithuania, Konarskio 35

Day 2: Tuesday May 27, 2003

C. Special Topics on Environmental Toxicology and Human Health Research on Metal Ion
9.15-10.00 Clinical and toxicological effects of mercury
Dr. José A. Centeno, AFIP
10.00-10.30 Medical Geology as applied to vector born diseases, radionuclides, organics etc.
Dr. Robert B. Finkelman, USGS
10.30-10.45 Coffee break
10.45-11.30 Speciation of trace elements and toxic metal ion species Dr. José A. Centeno, AFIP, Washington, DC
11.30-12.15 Analytical methods for the study of trace elements and toxic metal ions in geological and environmental samples
Dr. Robert B. Finkelman, USGS
12.15-13.15 LUNCH
13:15-14:00 Analytical methods for the study of metal ions in biological and tissue samples
Dr. José A. Centeno, AFIP, Washington, DC
Presentations of the Course participants
14:00-14:20 Medical geographical investigations of the influence of groundwater contamination on the population health as a part of drinking water risk assessment in Smolensk Oblast
Andrey Shapovalov, Water Problems Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences
14:20-14:40 Radon risk – the real problem in North Estonia
Krista Taht, Geological Survey of Estonia
14.45-15.00 Coffee break
15:00-15:20 Environmental geochemistry in Latvia
Dr. V.Seglinš, Geological Survey of Latvia
15:20 – 15:45 Sate of environment in central residential districs of Vilnius according to topsoil total contamination index
Dr. Ricardas Taraškevicius, Dr. Rimante Zinkute, Institute of Geology and Geography
15.45-16.15 Panel Discussion: Research Opportunities and Needs on Environmental Toxicology, Medical Geology and Human Health - All Speakers
16:15-16:30 Short Course Summary
Dr. Jose A. Centeno, AFIP, Washington, DC
Dr. Jonas Satkunas, LGT
18:00-20:00 Dinner, Hotel Centrum