The Lamont Earth Science Colloquium presents:
Could 25 Years of Bangladesh Arsenic Research Drive Policy Change?
with Dr. Lex van Geen, Lamont Research Professor, Geochemistry Division, LDEO
NIEHS Superfund funding enabled researchers from Mailman School of Public Health, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, and Bangladeshi partners to study 12,000 rural residents exposed to well-water arsenic levels varying over space and time. Our team found that participants who stopped drinking high-arsenic water for a decade saw mortality rates return to normal—half the rate of those still drinking contaminated water. This reversibility evidence strengthens the case for exposure reduction.
Our research also showed that targeting naturally low-arsenic aquifers at specific depths proves more sustainable than water treatment methods. We've developed a mobile app accessing a government database of 6 million georeferenced well tests to implement this approach. Should we release this app immediately, or wait for results from two randomized-controlled trials testing different app versions? I look forward to feedback from audience members - who will have the opportunity to test-drive one of the apps.
The Earth Science Colloquium Series, sponsored by Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and Columbia University Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DEES), provides a lively forum for discussing a wide variety of topics within the Earth sciences and related fields. Colloquia are attended by the full range of scientific and technical staff at LDEO. Colloquium attendance is required of all pre-orals DEES graduate students. The Colloquium Series supports the Lamont Seminar Diversity Initiative.
