ABSTRACT
Modern geomedicine deals with knowledge about the influence of geofactors on the geographic distribution of diseases. Geo-factors are all influences from the external environment, that is, earth, water, air, climatic conditions, and irradiation. Students are exposed to geomedical problems in their graduate education, but there is in Norway no institute or chair in geomedicine at the medical schools. Thus, Norwegian graduate physicians are aware of geomedical problems and viewpoints. In Trondheim there are plans for a chair in epidemiology at the Institute of Community Medicine, and geomedicine is included in the planned teaching and research program. Geomedical aspects of infectious diseases have always been important, especially due to the influence of geo-factors on the spreading of contagious agents. In dermatology, many geomedical factors of great importance are taught to the students. Dermatology considers the aquatic factors, with toxic and allergic effects of corals, plants, fish, and other organic material in lakes and salt water.
