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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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2015-01-01
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Series: | Indian Journal of Public Health |
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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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format | Article |
id | doaj.art-4a4ea94649244948b3c34ea5e4ee07a0 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 0019-557X |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-13T23:40:42Z |
publishDate | 2015-01-01 |
publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
record_format | Article |
series | Indian Journal of Public Health |
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= |
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