The Third International Congress on Arsenic in the Environment Began on May 18th in NCKU
Tainan, Taiwan, May 18th, 2010
The Third International Congress on Arsenic in the Environment began on May 18th in International Conference Hall, Kuang-Fu Campus, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), Taiwan, inviting international and national environmental and medical experts to share their research achievements on arsenic and attracting nearly 200 participants.
On behalf of National Cheng Kung University, President Michael Ming-Chiao Lai first expressed his sincere gratitude towards international and national scholars who have come to attend the symposium.
President Michael Ming-Chiao Lai said, “It’s particularly interesting for National Cheng Kung University to hose this international symposium, because arsenic (As), the origin cause for Blackfoot Disease, was first discovered in this region. The center for Blackfoot Disease was about one hour of drive from the campus. The disease was one of the most important public health problems 50 years ago in Southern Taiwan. Through the efforts of many scientists, physicians and public health workers working together, finally it was determined that arsenic in the ground water or drinking water was the cause of Blackfoot Disease.
President Lai added, “In this regard, I would like to particularly acknowledge Dr. King-Ho Wang, the father of Blackfoot Disease in Taiwan. As a physician, he has tirelessly taken care of his patients and participated in research. Ultimately, we found out that arsenic was the cause of Blackfoot Disease. This is a very important part of medical history in Taiwan. The arsenic problem is a worldwide problem. More than 60 countries have arsenic problem. Arsenic problem of contamination is not only a scientific problem, but also a medical, social and economic problem. Today, the Third International Congress on Arsenic in the Environment gathers international scientists and scholars together in Taiwan to exchange ideas on arsenic problems, hoping to find a solution.”
One of the keynote speakers, Academician Chien-Jen Chen of Academic Sinica, Taiwan, expressed, “Inorganic arsenic has been recognized as a human poison since ancient times. It is now recognized as the largest environmental calamity in Asia. People’s first impression of arsenic is usually Blackfoot Disease (BFD), a peripheral vascular disease associated with long-term arsenic exposure on the southwest coast of Taiwan. It is characterized by severe systemic arteriosclerosis as well as dry gangrene and spontaneous amputations of affected extremities and end stages.”
Dr. Chien-Jen Chen stated, “In addition to Blackfoot Disease, arsenic in drinking water may lead to the development of several cancers in humans. Studies have shown a significant dose-response relationship between arsenic in drinking water and increased risk of cancers of the liver, nasal cavity, lung, skin, urinary bladder, kidney and prostate in southwestern and northeastern Taiwan. Sufficient evidences in humans have also revealed that arsenic in drinking water has caused cancers of urinary bladder, lung and skin. Arsenic has even been classified as a group 1 carcinogen to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, France.”
Dr. Jiin-Shuh Jean, the organizer of The Third International Congress on Arsenic in the Environment and a professor from the Department of Earth Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, said, “Natural arsenic contamination of groundwater occurs around the world in a variety of geochemical processes. In the early 1990s, it became apparent that natural arsenic contamination of groundwater in alluvial floodplain aquifers was an important health problem, particularly in Southeast and South Asia. In Taiwan, Blackfoot Disease was first reported in Chianan plain where many people drank well water with high As content in 1960s. Some researchers consider that BFD is caused by high As content in drinking water but other researchers consider that it is caused by a combination of high As and humic acids. Elevated As in combination with high levels of humic compounds may be the primary etiological factors for unique occurrence of Blackfoot Disease in southwestern Taiwan.”
Dr. Jean also revealed, “Arsenic is the cause for Blackfoot Disease, but it may also lead to skin disease and cancers. We are currently undertaking a three year project from National Science Council, Taiwan, which will end in July, 2010. In addition to arsenic and humic substances, the team has discovered that ground water in Blackfoot Disease area, in other words, Chianan plain, also contains organo-metallic complex. Humic substances have a variety of functional groups and high metal-chelating ability, which forms organo-metallic complex and emits fluorescence. In animal experiments, by injecting the organo-metallic complex into rats, we hope to validate the theory that Blackfoot Disease is caused by this complex.”
The Third International Congress on Arsenic in the Environment has invited internationally renowned Science of the Total Environmental Journal Chief Editor Jerome O. Nriagu, Prof. William R. Cullen of Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Canada, Prof. John M. McArthur of Department of Earth Sciences, University of London, U.K., and Academician Chien-Jen Chen of Academic Sinica, Taiwan, to be the keynote speakers, as well as lecturers from more than 40 countries, including China, Japan, United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Nepal, India, Mexico, Sweden and Argentina, expecting to provides an opportunity for exchange, discussion and inspiration.
The theme of the symposium is arsenic in geosphere and human disease. It has seven discussion topics, “Geology, Hydrology, and Hydrogeology of Arsenic,” “Ecological Effects: Arsenic in Soils, Plants and Food Chain Cycle,” “Marine and Terrestrial Biota,” “Health Effects on Humans: Epidemiology and Biomarkers,” “Toxicological Effects: Animal Models,” “Assessment and Remediation of Arsenic Contaminations, Policy and Protection” and “Analytical Methods for Arsenic.”
The Third International Congress on Arsenic in the Environment began on May 18th in International Conference Hall, Kuang-Fu Campus, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), Taiwan, inviting international and national environmental and medical experts to share their research achievements on arsenic and attracting nearly 200 participants.
On behalf of National Cheng Kung University, President Michael Ming-Chiao Lai first expressed his sincere gratitude towards international and national scholars who have come to attend the symposium.
President Michael Ming-Chiao Lai said, “It’s particularly interesting for National Cheng Kung University to hose this international symposium, because arsenic (As), the origin cause for Blackfoot Disease, was first discovered in this region. The center for Blackfoot Disease was about one hour of drive from the campus. The disease was one of the most important public health problems 50 years ago in Southern Taiwan. Through the efforts of many scientists, physicians and public health workers working together, finally it was determined that arsenic in the ground water or drinking water was the cause of Blackfoot Disease.
President Lai added, “In this regard, I would like to particularly acknowledge Dr. King-Ho Wang, the father of Blackfoot Disease in Taiwan. As a physician, he has tirelessly taken care of his patients and participated in research. Ultimately, we found out that arsenic was the cause of Blackfoot Disease. This is a very important part of medical history in Taiwan. The arsenic problem is a worldwide problem. More than 60 countries have arsenic problem. Arsenic problem of contamination is not only a scientific problem, but also a medical, social and economic problem. Today, the Third International Congress on Arsenic in the Environment gathers international scientists and scholars together in Taiwan to exchange ideas on arsenic problems, hoping to find a solution.”
One of the keynote speakers, Academician Chien-Jen Chen of Academic Sinica, Taiwan, expressed, “Inorganic arsenic has been recognized as a human poison since ancient times. It is now recognized as the largest environmental calamity in Asia. People’s first impression of arsenic is usually Blackfoot Disease (BFD), a peripheral vascular disease associated with long-term arsenic exposure on the southwest coast of Taiwan. It is characterized by severe systemic arteriosclerosis as well as dry gangrene and spontaneous amputations of affected extremities and end stages.”
Dr. Chien-Jen Chen stated, “In addition to Blackfoot Disease, arsenic in drinking water may lead to the development of several cancers in humans. Studies have shown a significant dose-response relationship between arsenic in drinking water and increased risk of cancers of the liver, nasal cavity, lung, skin, urinary bladder, kidney and prostate in southwestern and northeastern Taiwan. Sufficient evidences in humans have also revealed that arsenic in drinking water has caused cancers of urinary bladder, lung and skin. Arsenic has even been classified as a group 1 carcinogen to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, France.”
Dr. Jiin-Shuh Jean, the organizer of The Third International Congress on Arsenic in the Environment and a professor from the Department of Earth Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, said, “Natural arsenic contamination of groundwater occurs around the world in a variety of geochemical processes. In the early 1990s, it became apparent that natural arsenic contamination of groundwater in alluvial floodplain aquifers was an important health problem, particularly in Southeast and South Asia. In Taiwan, Blackfoot Disease was first reported in Chianan plain where many people drank well water with high As content in 1960s. Some researchers consider that BFD is caused by high As content in drinking water but other researchers consider that it is caused by a combination of high As and humic acids. Elevated As in combination with high levels of humic compounds may be the primary etiological factors for unique occurrence of Blackfoot Disease in southwestern Taiwan.”
Dr. Jean also revealed, “Arsenic is the cause for Blackfoot Disease, but it may also lead to skin disease and cancers. We are currently undertaking a three year project from National Science Council, Taiwan, which will end in July, 2010. In addition to arsenic and humic substances, the team has discovered that ground water in Blackfoot Disease area, in other words, Chianan plain, also contains organo-metallic complex. Humic substances have a variety of functional groups and high metal-chelating ability, which forms organo-metallic complex and emits fluorescence. In animal experiments, by injecting the organo-metallic complex into rats, we hope to validate the theory that Blackfoot Disease is caused by this complex.”
The Third International Congress on Arsenic in the Environment has invited internationally renowned Science of the Total Environmental Journal Chief Editor Jerome O. Nriagu, Prof. William R. Cullen of Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Canada, Prof. John M. McArthur of Department of Earth Sciences, University of London, U.K., and Academician Chien-Jen Chen of Academic Sinica, Taiwan, to be the keynote speakers, as well as lecturers from more than 40 countries, including China, Japan, United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Nepal, India, Mexico, Sweden and Argentina, expecting to provides an opportunity for exchange, discussion and inspiration.
The theme of the symposium is arsenic in geosphere and human disease. It has seven discussion topics, “Geology, Hydrology, and Hydrogeology of Arsenic,” “Ecological Effects: Arsenic in Soils, Plants and Food Chain Cycle,” “Marine and Terrestrial Biota,” “Health Effects on Humans: Epidemiology and Biomarkers,” “Toxicological Effects: Animal Models,” “Assessment and Remediation of Arsenic Contaminations, Policy and Protection” and “Analytical Methods for Arsenic.”
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