Human Health/Medical Geology

the increasing incidence of diseases like cancer or asthma. At the forefront of geomedical research, the USGS has the role to provide the public and the policymakers with the scientific information needed to account for the environmental and human health consequences of energy resource extraction, processing, transportation and use. The USGS is addressing these issues in an interdisciplinary context, through a dedicated project entitled “Impacts of Energy Resources on Human Health and Environmental Quality”. Several research topics include: Balkan Endemic Nephropathy (BEN), “panendemic nephropathy” (i.e., diseases similar to BEN but outside the Balkans), environmental contamination related to mountain top mining (MTM) and coal slurry in the Appalachian Basin and the release of toxic substances in energy combustion products.

Figure 1. Mountain top mining (MTM) in the
Appalachian Basin has adverse consequences
on the environment and human and ecosystems
health. USGS in collaboration with West Virginia
University in Morgantown is addressing issues
as water, air and soil pollution caused by MTM.
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Figure 2. Coal, in native or processed form, is a

major source of organic pollutants that can leach

into groundwater or streams and affects humans

or aquatic organisms. This photo shows a seam

of Pliocene lignite from Romania; such low rank

coal deposits are widespread in the Balkan

endemic nephropathy (BEN) areas and are

supposed to contain nephrotoxic and

carcinogenic organic substances that

contaminate drinking groundwater and are

causing the fatal kidney disease and urinary

tract cancers. Enlarge Image

References:

Orem W., Tatu C., Pavlovic N., Bunnell J., Kolker A., Engle M. and Ben Stout (2009) Health Effects of Energy Resources. U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2009-3096.

Kolker A., Engle, M., Stracher G., Hower J., Prakash A., Radke L., ter Schure A., Heffern E (2009) Emissions from coal fires and their impact on the environment: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2009-3084.

Orem W.H., Bunnell J.E. Tatu C.A., Pavlovic N., and (2009) Toxicological pathways of relevance to medical geology. In: Encyclopedia of Environmemntal Health (Nriagu J., editor), Elsevier Science 2011.

Contact: William H. Orem borem@usgs.gov

links between human health and air quality alterations due to fossil fuel extraction/mining and combustion.

The presence in air of fine particulate matter 2.5 micrometers in size, called PM2.5, and originating from coal combustion and other sources, is a serious health concern. This material is small enough to be readily lodged in small interstices (alveoli) in the lungs. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) air-quality regulatory standards are based on limits in the amount of PM2.5, while the USGS can provide more detailed knowledge on the chemistry, mineralogy, surface characteristics and potential toxicity of such particles.

A multi-agency study in the Navajo Nation of New Mexico has focused on the extent of human exposure to contaminants in particulate matter derived from domestic coal combustion and links to respiratory disease. The study was based on both epidemiological data examining the incidence of respiratory diseases as well as on field studies measuring indoor and outdoor air quality, including PM2.5. Air sampling in the Navajo Nation has shown that in winter, when coal stoves are in use, some homes exceed the USEPA 24-hour ambient (outdoor) PM2.5 standard. Analysis of PM2.5 samples from Navajo homes burning coal shows an abundance of organic compounds indicative of a coal source.

References:

Orem W., Tatu C., Pavlovic N., Bunnell J., Kolker A., Engle M. and Ben Stout (2009) Health Effects of Energy Resources. U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2009-3096.

Kolker A., Engle, M., Stracher G., Hower J., Prakash A., Radke L., ter Schure A., Heffern E (2009) Emissions from coal fires and their impact on the environment: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2009-3084.

Bunnell J. E., Garcia L.V, Furst J.M., Lerch H., Olea R.A., Suitt S.E., and Kolker A. (2010) Navajo coal combustion and respiratory health near shiprock, new Mexico. J Environ Public Health. 2010:260525.

Contact: William H. Orem borem@usgs.gov

disease, specialized facilities have been set up at the USGS, providing capability to perform toxicology experiments on human cell line cultures. These allow to study cellular alterations in response to toxicants and to establish toxic levels for certain energy resource-derived contaminants, through various techniques: toxicology bioassays, ELISA, molecular biology, microscopy, DNA sequencing and PCR. The results of such research are helpful in developing protocols to protect the public health through avoidance of exposure to potentially harmful substances, and to maintain environmental integrity and quality.

Figure 1. Spring used as drinking water supply

in a Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) village

in Bulgaria. Such water sources can be

contaminated with nephrotoxic/carcinogenic

compounds derived from low rank coal (Pliocene

lignite) and exposed human populations are at

risk of developing BEN and urothelial

carcinomas. Use of alternative water supplies

(deeper aquifers or municipal water from

outside the endemic area) has apparently been

linked to a decrease in disease incidence.
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Figure 2. Actin (green), a cytoskeletal protein, is

downregulated in HK-2 human kidney cell line

upon exposure to humic substances and other

organic compounds derived from coal. Such

immunofluorescence assays are useful in

investigating cellular alterations in the presence

of harmful compounds derived from energy

resources. Enlarge Image

Contact: William H. Orem borem@usgs.gov