Environmental arsenic toxicity in West Bengal, India: A brief policy review

High-level arsenic contamination of drinking water in West Bengal (WB), India is a grave public health concern, with 26 million people remaining affected. Two decades of research has provided detailed information on multiple aspects of exposure assessment and risk characterization. However, policy p...

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Main Authors: Atreyee Basu, Parijat Sen, Ayan Jha
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2015-01-01
Series:Indian Journal of Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.ijph.in/article.asp?issn=0019-557X;year=2015;volume=59;issue=4;spage=295;epage=298;aulast=
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author Atreyee Basu
Parijat Sen
Ayan Jha
author_facet Atreyee Basu
Parijat Sen
Ayan Jha
author_sort Atreyee Basu
collection DOAJ
description High-level arsenic contamination of drinking water in West Bengal (WB), India is a grave public health concern, with 26 million people remaining affected. Two decades of research has provided detailed information on multiple aspects of exposure assessment and risk characterization. However, policy paralysis due to lack of finances and lack of any administrative coordination between the Central and State Governments has hampered the implementation of long-term solutions. Household- and community-level arsenic removal units have provided some relief to the suffering population. In view of the increased funding through the 12th Five-Year Plan period, it is the responsibility of the authorities to implement piped water supply schemes with single-point treatment facilities as the permanent solution to this three-decade-long crisis. Incorporating research evidence into policy and focusing on behavior change communication would be crucial to that end.
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spelling doaj.art-4a4ea94649244948b3c34ea5e4ee07a02022-12-22T02:24:31ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsIndian Journal of Public Health0019-557X2015-01-01594295298Environmental arsenic toxicity in West Bengal, India: A brief policy reviewAtreyee BasuParijat SenAyan JhaHigh-level arsenic contamination of drinking water in West Bengal (WB), India is a grave public health concern, with 26 million people remaining affected. Two decades of research has provided detailed information on multiple aspects of exposure assessment and risk characterization. However, policy paralysis due to lack of finances and lack of any administrative coordination between the Central and State Governments has hampered the implementation of long-term solutions. Household- and community-level arsenic removal units have provided some relief to the suffering population. In view of the increased funding through the 12th Five-Year Plan period, it is the responsibility of the authorities to implement piped water supply schemes with single-point treatment facilities as the permanent solution to this three-decade-long crisis. Incorporating research evidence into policy and focusing on behavior change communication would be crucial to that end.http://www.ijph.in/article.asp?issn=0019-557X;year=2015;volume=59;issue=4;spage=295;epage=298;aulast=Arsenic mitigationarsenicosisarsenic removalpiped water supplyrural drinking water program
spellingShingle Atreyee Basu
Parijat Sen
Ayan Jha
Environmental arsenic toxicity in West Bengal, India: A brief policy review
Indian Journal of Public Health
Arsenic mitigation
arsenicosis
arsenic removal
piped water supply
rural drinking water program
title Environmental arsenic toxicity in West Bengal, India: A brief policy review
title_full Environmental arsenic toxicity in West Bengal, India: A brief policy review
title_fullStr Environmental arsenic toxicity in West Bengal, India: A brief policy review
title_full_unstemmed Environmental arsenic toxicity in West Bengal, India: A brief policy review
title_short Environmental arsenic toxicity in West Bengal, India: A brief policy review
title_sort environmental arsenic toxicity in west bengal india a brief policy review
topic Arsenic mitigation
arsenicosis
arsenic removal
piped water supply
rural drinking water program
url http://www.ijph.in/article.asp?issn=0019-557X;year=2015;volume=59;issue=4;spage=295;epage=298;aulast=
work_keys_str_mv AT atreyeebasu environmentalarsenictoxicityinwestbengalindiaabriefpolicyreview
AT parijatsen environmentalarsenictoxicityinwestbengalindiaabriefpolicyreview
AT ayanjha environmentalarsenictoxicityinwestbengalindiaabriefpolicyreview