KTH-International Groundwater Arsenic Research Group will be responsible for global advocacy, awareness-raising, capacity building and exchange of information as well as replication trials and final conceptualization of the studied mitigation option. All work will be done in close collaboration with NGO Forum, Dhaka University and Ramböll as well as the external collaborators within the network.

During year one, responsible for

1. Prepare an inventory of the arsenic occurrences globally in south Asia and their distribution.

2. Initiate activities on campaigns for awareness raising, about the presence of As, its heterogeneities and behaviours in natural groundwater environments and the necessities to explore for safe aquifers that can be sustainable over a wide range of countries with diverse socio-economic scenario.

3. Consolidate information and database on the groundwater resources for exploitation of safe-drinking water in different parts of the As affected hotspots in various parts of the globe. This is presently being carried out in the form of a Taylor and Francis Publication entitled “Geogenic Arsenic in Groundwater of Latin America–Occurrence, Health Impact, Remediation and Management” together with the International Society of Groundwater for Sustainable Development (ISGSD) (www.isgsd.org)” edited by the team including researchers from KTH-International Groundwater Arsenic Research Group. This will be integrated and strengthened as a current project component.

4. Include new areas in the compilation of the available database on the occurrences of As, estimation of the affected population, and the present mitigation approach and their sustainability as safe drinking water source.

Achievement after 1 year:

“Global advocacy, awareness-raising, capacity building and exchange of information”, the following activities have been done:
• Presentation of 3 abstracts at 2nd International Congress on Arsenic in the environment, Arsenic from nature to humans, Valencia, 21-23 May 2008 (co-financed activity1)

• Presentation of the SAsMit Project as a advisory member of the European Commission Sixth Framework Programme (2002-2006), Marie Curie Actions – Human Resources and Mobility Activity Area, Research Training Networks: Geogenic chemicals in groundwater and soils: a research training Network (30 June-3 July 2008).

• Groundwater Arsenic: A global environmental health problem and sustainable mitigation (Topical Session, Geological Soceity of America, Annual Meeting, Houston Texas, USA (5-9 October, 2008)

• SAsMit project presentation for Asian Development Bank in Cambodia, 2009-02-25

• Special Issue of Journal of Contaminant Hydrology: “Distribution of Geogenic Arsenic in Hydrologic Systems: Controls and Challenges” Editors: Mukherjee, A., Bhattacharya, P., Savage, K., Foster, A. & Bunschuh, J. July, 2008, J. Cont. Hydrol. v. 99 (1-4): 1-150.

• Special Issue of Environment International: “Arsenic Geochemistry, Transport Mechanism in the Soil-Plant System, Human and Animal Health Issues” Editors: Kim, K.-W., Bang, S., Zhu, Y. G., Meharg, A. A. & Bhattacharya, P., April, 2009 Environmental International. v. 35(3): 453-515.

• Supplementary Issue of Environmental Geochemistry and Health: “Arsenic in the Environment—Risks and Management Strategies” Editors: Naidu, R. & Bhattacharya, P., April, 2009 Environmental Geochemistry and Health v. 31 (Supplement 1): 1-113.

• Edited book: “Groundwater and Sustainable Development: Problems, Perspectives and Challenges” P. Bhattacharya, AL Ramanathan, A.B.Mukherjee, J. Bundschuh D. Chandrashekharam & AK Keshari (eds) © 2008, Taylor & Francis Group, London, ISBN 978-0-415-40776-2, 460p.

• Interdisciplinary Book Series: “Arsenic in the Environment” Volume 1, Series Editors: Jochen Bundschuh and Prosun Bhattacharya, CRC Press/Taylor and Francis. “Natural arsenic in groundwaters of Latin America ? Occurrence, health impact and remediation”. Bundschuh, J. Armienta, M.A., P. Birkle, Bhattacharya, P., Matschullat, J. & Mukherjee, A.B. (eds.) © 2009 CRC Press/Taylor and Francis (ISBN: 978-0-415- 40771-7).

Disseminate Information through Website:

This is also the part of global component to disseminate information through Website. A website has already been developed and launched which can be accessed at www.ngof.org/SAsMit. The development of this website and uploading of the relevant information and data is a continual activity. The access to this website has been divided in two categories – general, up to a certain limit and special, with a password protection for entering into details, particularly access to database.