Iain Thornton, Pioneer in Environmental Geochemistry, Dies at 91
Iain Thornton, a leading figure in environmental geochemistry, has passed away at the age of 91. Thornton was instrumental in developing the study of how natural and human-made chemicals in various media, such as soils, stream sediments, water, and house dust, impact human and animal health. He conducted much of his work through the Applied Geochemistry Research Group (AGRG) at Imperial College London, where he started in 1964 and retired as a professor in 2000. His early work with John Webb involved mapping chemical element distribution across the UK, which led to the 1978 Wolfson Geochemical Atlas of England and Wales. This atlas established a global standard for systematic geochemical mapping, providing crucial data for industries like mineral exploration and for understanding health risks from potentially toxic elements. After taking over leadership of the research group in 1979, Thornton focused on the harmful environmental effects of heavy metals. His team's findings, particularly concerning elevated... 
