International conference on geograpic chemicals begins today

A major conference, organised by scientists at The University of Manchester to showcase vital work on the effect of geographic chemicals begins today. The 'Geographic Chemicals in Groundwaters and Soils' event will showcase the work of researchers in the AquaTRAIN Marie Curie Research Training Network. This network, coordinated by The University of Manchester's Professor David Polys, aims to highlight the environmental effect - including the effect on human health - of chemicals of natural origin in groundwater and soils. Held today and tomorrow at the Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM), a major geoscience centre in Orleans, France, the conference will have a number of important speakers from universities and research institutions all over the world. There is a widespread perception that all detrimental chemicals in the environment are of anthropogenic origin - caused by human activities such as chemical industries, burning of fossil fuels, mining or the production and application of agrochemicals. But significant detrimental health outcomes are arising across the globe because of exposure to geogenic chemicals. Arsenic is the most significant of these in terms of tens of millions of people exposed, resulting in millions suffering ill-health and thousands of premature deaths each year.