Medical geology is an emerging interdisciplinary scientific field studying the relationship between natural geological factors and their effects on human and animal health. The Commission on Geological Sciences for Environmental Planning defines medical geology as "the science dealing with the influence of ordinary environmental factors on the geographical distribution of health problems in man and animals." In its broadest sense, medical geology studies exposure to or deficiency of trace elements and minerals; inhalation of ambient and anthropogenic mineral dusts and volcanic emissions; transportation, modification and concentration of organic compounds; and exposure to radionuclides, microbes and pathogens. History Many have deemed medical geology as a new field, when in actuality it is re-emerging. Hippocrates and Aristotle first recognized the relationship between human diseases and the earth's elements. This field ultimately depends on a number of different fields coming and working together to solve some of the earth's mysteries. The scientific term for this field is "hydrobiogeochemoepidemiopathoecology"; however, it is more commonly known as medical geology. It was established in 1990 by the International Union of Geological Sciences. Paracelsus, the father of pharmacology (1493–1541), stated that "all substances are poisons, there is none which is not a poison. The right dosage differentiates a poison and a remedy." This passage sums up the idea of medical geology. The goal of this field is to find the right balance and intake of elements/minerals in order to improve and maintain health. Examples of research in medical geology include: Studies on the impact of contaminant mobility as a result of extreme weather events such as flooding. Lead and other heavy metal exposure resulting from dust and other particulates Asbestos exposure such as amphibole asbestos dusts in Libby, Montana Fungal infection resulting from airborne dust, such as Valley Fever or coccidioidomycosis Recently, a new concept of geomedical engineering has been introduced in medical geology through a paper titled "Geomedical Engineering: A new and captivating prospect". It provides the fundamentals of engineering applications to the medical geology issues. Environment and human health It is widely known that the state of our environment affects us in many ways. Minerals and rocks have an impact on human and animal populations because that is what the earth is composed of. Medical geology brings professionals from both the medicine field and the geology field to help us understand this relationship. There are two priorities that have been established within the medical geology