MEDICAL GEOLOGY IN COLOMBIA

Londoño Sandra C., Rojas Ana Maria, Garzón Cristina
sclondonoa@unal.edu.co
ncgarzong@unal.edu.co
amrojasb@unal.edu.co
Research group on Medical Geology, Universidad Nacional de Colombia
Geolmedica_fcbog@unal.edu.co
A.A. No 75058 Bogotá-Colombia

Abstract

The research in Medical Geology in Colombia has its backgrounds in numerous disciplines such as Geosciences, Health Sciences, Chemistry, Biology and recently Informatics. Medical Geology is aimed at studying the relationship and imbalances that the organisms held with the natural and geochemical environment of Planet Earth. The research group on Medical Geology of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia has led the research training of students and the development of academic proposals towards interdisciplinary knowledge of the geological resources in direct relation with the welfare and health of the Colombian society. The general outlines of the group are presented as well as the projects being developed to apply this useful and fascinating field.

Universidad Nacional de Colombia.-Research Group on Medical Geology

In a globalize world, the knowledge of the planet should not be exclusivity of “developed” countries but the “developing” countries should articulate in an efficient manner to the new research fields, even more if these areas can generate positive impacts on the society helping to improve the assessment of their resources and the best ways to manage them towards a sustainable development to ensure a safer, healthier and prosperous world.

Aware of the need and importance of promoting and implementing the Medical Geology field in Colombia and tending to the articulation of disciplines, the Medical Geology Research group was created on 2006. Currently the group is composed of students, teachers and professionals from a variety of fields: Medicine, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine, Social Work, Geography, Biology and Geology.

The research group has led, since its creation, the research training of students and the development of academic proposals towards understanding the geological resources in direct relation with the welfare and health of the Colombian society. In our country are classic the works on environmental geochemistry directed to characterize natural components either as probable sources of human or animal pathogenesis meanwhile its potential therapeutic use or as non conventional pharmacs is still restricted to traditional knowledge and practices that has not been validated from a scientific point of view.

To guide the work, the group has established several research lines:

- Hydrological Resources, Environment and Health in Colombia
- Mining-energetic Resources, Pathogeneses and Healing potentials.
- Forensic Geology: support of the judicial and penal system of Colombia
- Medical Geology, Health and Animal Conservation.
- Natural History and contributions to Medical Geology.
- Reference Collection of Medical Geology
- Informatics and Medical Geology.

These lines of inquiry have emphasis on evaluation of the epidemiological profile of the Colombian society, in general, the lines are coherent with geological features of our territory and are aimed at assessing the potential risks of environmental and social degradation due to the lack of adequate policies and practices with the environment we inhabit.

Projects: Under the above mentioned lines, the following projects have been proposed, some of them are in progress and others are looking for funding.

-Bibliographic Catalog and infometric approach to Medical Geology: The evaluation and recuperation of studies in the proposed lines will allow the divulgation of a Documental Catalog of Medical Geology in Colombia with bibliographic queries of author, title or descriptor, geospatial localization, geochemical components, pharmaceutical products, pathologies and pathogenesis, including scientific nomenclature and social groups being affected or with the understanding of the use and handling of geological resources.

-Directory of Medical Geology researchers: An important tool in the creation of global nets of cooperation, support and interchange of information.

-Documental Catalog of the Bogotá River: The Bogotá River is a serious pollution and public health problem. There are several studies on the subject spread in numerous state entities, ONG´s, Colleges, etc. The compilation will allow the use of information and previous results as well as proposing new studies in Medical Geology required for understanding and solving the problem.

-Potential use in Medicine of the Clays found in the Colombian Amazon: Colombia is recognized for its biological, cultural and geo-environmental diversity, these allow different research alternatives in Medical Geology. This case study has the main objective of deepening in the knowledge and potential use in medicine of the clays among the Huitoto Indigenous society. Methods from geology, geochemistry and ethno-sciences were applied.

-Ecosystem approach to study and control of the pathogen Geohelmints in a village near of Bogotá: A study being conducted along with the Parasitology group of the Universidad Nacional that has been studying the Geohelmintiasis in a small village for almost ten years only from the public health perspective. The objective is to determine the degree of contamination of soils and waters, to evaluate its seasonal fluctuations using climatic data and integrate the particular geological features of the area that could be involved in the problem.

-Mining of aggregates and respiratory disease symptoms found in a community in southern Bogotá: A first approach to see if a trend can be recognized between the population living near an exploitation area of construction aggregates and respiratory disease symptoms. Wind circulation patterns, climatic and habits will be taken into account.

Conclusions and Recommendations

Although Medical Geology in Colombia has a disciplinary record, it lacks the conformation of a solid academic community that in a standardized manner constantly works and reflect on this area. It is strongly recommended to strength the entailing of researchers and other social actors, the compilation of published works, papers and documents, the articulation of disciplines and institutions in the local as well as in the national and international scope.

Medical Geology in Colombia has a lot to contribute in solving public health problems, social welfare and in the identification of factors that help to mitigate effects of global warming. Because it is a new field in Colombia, it offers good opportunities for economic and social development, employment and academic application.

It is recommended further study of the therapeutic potential of geological processes and materials.

CONTACT
Geolmedica_fcbog@unal.edu.co
geologiamedica@gmail.com
sclondonoa@unal.edu.co