MINERALS & ENVIRONMENT

ME1 - Clay Minerals: Management of Harmful Cations Wastes

In the second half of the 20th century humanity has come face to face with two linked events: scientific and technological developments, which have caused an increasing pollution of the natural environment. In this sense, the interaction between clay minerals and aqueous solutions plays an important role in controlling radionuclides and heavy metals level and in preventing their disposal into the terrestrial and marine environment. This session aim is to cover all aspects of interaction between harmful cations and clay minerals which includes ion-exchange, physical sorption and chemisorption, filtration, precipitation and chemical reaction.

Conveners: María Dolores Alba Carranza, Maria del Mar Orta, Miquel Vidal
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ME2 - Airborne Particulate Matters & Minerals

Airborne particulate matters and minerals may include materials of different nature and toxicity and may be inhaled causing lung diseases including a malignant mesothelioma. These health hazard minerals include “regulatory” asbestos minerals (crocidolite, amosite, anthophyllite, tremolite, actinolite, and chrysotile) as well as “non-regulatory” minerals, which have appeared in literature. Under special conditions, other particulate minerals, such as very fine inhalable quartz, clay minerals, metal compounds etc., may also pose a risk to health. These particulate minerals and the elements they may release should be the aim of a multidisciplinary research, where mineralogists and geochemists may contribute to characterize mineral reactivity, help to identify possible mechanism(s) of their carcinogenicity, toxicity and capacity to induce diseases and aid government organizations in their decision making.

Conveners: Meral Dogan, F. Javier Huertas
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ME3 - Minerals as Medicine

It is law of nature that the cure of a  disease is always available in the surrounding area where the disease is spread. Almost in every part of the world local medicines are being practiced for centuries and they are effective. These local traditional medicines are to be given a scientific coverage and testimony. In India Ayurveda is being practiced for hundreds of years using plant and animal products and minerals. The proposed Session will cover a number of minerals being used as medicine in Ayurveda and traditional medicines practiced in other countries like China, Taiwan Egypt, India and many African countries.

Conveners: B.S. Paliwal
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ME4 - Zeolites: Environmental & Medical Uses

Due to their structure, well-defined pores and channel size, ionic exchange, molecular sieving and catalytic properties, zeolites are used in numerous agricultural, industrial and environmental fields. In particular, they are widely employed in environmental applications for the decontamination of polluted soil and water. Recently, these microporous and mesoporous materials have also received great attention in medical application because of  their biological properties, low toxicity and high compatibility. Zeolites have been investigated as drug carriers, adjuvant agents in anticancer therapies, dietetic supplements or antimicrobial agents. Due to their stability over time zeolites are used as biomaterials, too. This session will highlight the recent researches on synthetic and natural zeolites in medical and environmental applications providing a forum to stimulate and promote a discussion on their effects upon human health and the role they play in toxic element immobilization.

Conveners: Claudia Belviso
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Last update: June 13, 2010