Conferences - Past & Future

Ongoing

Monthly Seminars of the Columbia University Superfund Basic Research Program

Contact Meredith Golden to sign up for email notices of the seminars.  See the Columbia SBRP website for more information on the program.

2004

32nd International Geological Congress:  Pre-Congress Workshop 'BWO 06 Natural Arsenic In Groundwater,' 18-19 August, Florence, Italy

See the workshop website (or the mirror).  Deadline for applications to the GeoHost subsidy programme for developing country participants is 30 Nov 2003.

2003

Advances in Arsenic Research, Integration of Experimental and Observational Studies and Implications for Mitigation at the 226th Annual Meeting of the American Chemical Society, New York, NY 7-11 September, 2003

Abstracts may be submitted to the ACS online abstract system by  11 May 2003.  Deadline for hardcopy abstract submission is 28 April 2003.  For more information contact one of the organizers:  Peggy O'Day, Dimitri Vlassopoulos, or Liane Benning.

Arsenic in Aquatic Environments and Systems at the 226th American Chemical Society National Meeting 7-11 September, 2003, New York

If you or a colleague is interested in presenting a paper, please submit a short abstract to the ACS online abstract system (OASYS) by May 10, 2003. 

Special Symposium on Arsenic in Soil and Groundwater Environments: Biogeochemical Interactions, 7th International Conference on Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements (ICOBTE), 15-19 June 2003

See the conference page; or download the abstracts (PDF file).  Organized by Richard H. Loeppert (USA), Soil and Crop Sciences Dept., Texas A&M University; Prosun Bhattacharya (Sweden) Dept of Land and Water Resources Engineering, Royal Institute of Technology, SE-10044 STOCKHOLM, Sweden; and Alan H Welch (USA) United States Geological Survey, Carson City, Nevada, USA.

"Heavy Metals in the Environment," 26-30 May 2003, Grenoble, France

At the International Conference Center (ATRIA) in downtown Grenoble. The tentative agenda is as follows: 1-The first circular will be sent to the people of the Ann Arbor mailing list in March 2002. People who are interested to participate are requested to send a one page abstract of their proposed communication not later than May 1, 2002. 2-The Organizing Committee will notify the acceptance of the proposed communications not later than July 1, 2002. 3-The authors will be requested to send a 4 page long camera ready manuscript not later than October 1, 2002 for publication of the proceedings of the conference in a special issue of the well known Journal de Physique (EDP Sciences). 4-The final circular will be sent in early 2003. Contact person: Christophe Ferrari, Maître de conférences à l'Université Joseph Fourier Laboratoire de Glaciologie et Géophysique de l'Environnement du CNRS

First International Workshop on Aquifer Vulnerability and Risk, Salamanca, Gto. México,  28-30 May, 2003

[Conference webpage no longer online.]  Organized by Consejo Técnico de Aguas Irapuato Valle de Santiago, COTAS Comisión Estatal del Agua de Guanajuato, CEAG Instituto de Geofísica, UNAM Red de Vulnerabilidad Acuífera Instituto Estatal de Ecología de Guanajuato Municipio de Salamanca, Gto. Escuela Superior de Ingeniería y Arquitectura, ESIA-IPN

Objectives: Vulnerable aquifers put groundwater at extreme pollution risk. Intense abstraction may cause subsidence or may enhance faults and fractures increasing aquifer vulnerability. The primary objective of the workshop is to develop a multidisciplinary network forum for groups working with aquifer vulnerability and risk assessment methodologies by providing an environment conducive to discussion and interaction.  Topics: Vulnerability assessment, Aquifer modeling,Model validation and sensitivity analysis, Geostatistical analysis of aquifer properties, Subsidence, Risk Assessment, Case Studies

Call for papers: Abstracts must be received by October 25, 2002. An abstract should not exceed 300 words. Submissions will be peer-reviewed. Authors will be notified of the acceptance of their submission in early December 2002. Authors of accepted work will be required to submit an extended abstract of no more than 10 pages by March 7, 2003 for publication in the workshop proceedings.

Please indicate your interest in the conference by sending email to: Lic. Carlos Valero.  Include the following information: name, institution, address, email. Indicate if you are interested in: 1) attending the workshop, 2) presenting a paper, and/or 3) receiving a second circular. If you wish to present a paper, please indicate the topic and tentative title.

5th International Congress of Turkish Society of Toxicology (IC-TST), 24-27 April 2003, Antalya, Turkey

The Organising Commity cordially welcomes the attendance and participation of scientists involved in toxicology and related fields.  Sessions relevant to the arsenic crisis include ''Carcinogenesis of Heavy Metals'' and ''Current advances in arsenic genotoxicity.''

On line registration.  Congress Secretariat:  Yalçýn Duydu, Ankara University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Toxicology, 06100 Tandoðan, Ankara, Turkey.  Tel : +90 312 2126805-2322, Fax: +90 312 2122921

The Third World Water Forum: Technological and Policy Dimensions of Arsenic Contamination in the Asian Region - Water Supply, Sanitation, Hygiene, and Water Pollution Session, Sunday, 16 March 2003, Kyoto, Japan

Session information webpage.  Co-organized by United Nations University (UNU), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organization (WHO), National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).

The Fifth International India Bangladesh Symposia 2003, 2-3 March (Calcutta) & 5-6 March (Dhaka): Reducing the Impact of Toxic Contamination on Bengal Basin Economies

Call for papers. Organized by the International Institute of Bengal Basin (IIBB) and the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP).  Topics included arsenic contamination of groundwater, arsenic mitigation and removal, technologies, hydrology, geology, identification and protection of damaged aquifers and protection of the unaffected production aquifers, epidemiology, environmental consequences, toxicology, relationship between the surface and groundwater impact of annual flood on Bengal basin and other South Asian countries, impact of pesticides on surface and ground water and on the food chain, impacts of air pollutants on public and environmental health and health affects., ecology and health of Bengal basin's rivers, estuaries and bay of Bengal, canopy chemistry, nutrient cycling, wood productivity and mangrove forests.

BUET-UNU International Symposium on Fate of Arsenic in the Environment 5-6 February 2003, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Full text symposium proceedings.  

2002

Fifth International Conference On Arsenic Exposure & Health Effects. Tentative dates 14-17 July 2002, San Diego CA

UNU-NIES International Workshop - Arsenic Contamination in Groundwater, Technical and Policy Dimensions, in Tokyo 8 Feb 2002

Workshop annoucement and programme.

International Workshop on Arsenic Mitigation, Dhaka 14-16 Jan 2002

Government sponsored workshop.  Online:

Conference on Arsenic contamination and remediation in Bangladesh, Dhaka, 12-13 Jan 2002

Organized by Dhaka Community Hospital.

2001

International Conference on Freshwater, Bonn 2001, Bonn, Germany, 3-7 Dec 2001

There is nothing specifically on the arsenic crisis in the conference website, call for papers, etc., but the scope of the conference is such that crisis-related papers would certainly be appropriate.]

Arsenic in Drinking Water - An International Conference at Columbia University, New York, 26-27 Nov 2001

Hosted by the Columbia Superfund Basic Research Program. See the conference webpage, which has links to (among other things) online copies of (some?) of the conference papers.

Arsenic in the Asia-Pacific Region Workshop, Adelaide, South Australia, 20-23 Nov 2001

Sponsored by CSIRO Land & Water, this arsenic workshop immediately followed the 2001 Bioavailability Workshop on 18-20 Nov 2001 in Adelaide. The focus of the workshop was "Managing Arsenic for our Future.  The major themes of the Workshop reflected important management issues, such as:

  • Fate of arsenic in soil/water/plants 
  • Source-sink relationships - continuum between arsenic in soil parent rock and humans
  • Risk-based assessment of arsenic contaminated areas - is it feasible?
  • Remediation - what is achievable?
  • Environmental health - what are the acceptable target levels?

Proposed SETAC Platform Session, 9H, Fate & Transport of Arsenic in the Environment, Baltimore USA, 11-15 Nov 2001

There is a session on the "Fate and Transport of Arsenic in the Environment" proposed for the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) 22nd Annual Meeting. The meeting will be at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. The session has been reviewed by the SETAC Program Committee and has been included on the First Call for Abstracts. 

Natural Arsenic In Groundwater: Science Regulation And Health Implications - Topical Session 61 (Oral & Poster) at the Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, 5-8 Nov 2001, Boston MA

This session will focus on recent advances in scientific understanding of natural arsenic in groundwater and their implications for nvironmental regulation and human health. We expect widespread participation in sessions pertaining to this important international environmental health problem. Papers (oral and poster) dealing with arsenic geochemistry, the hydrogeology of regions with naturally occurring arsenic in groundwater, epidemiology of arsenic exposure, and environmental regulations pertaining to arsenic in groundwater are encouraged. Moderators: Stuart Rojstaczer, Duke University, Durham, N.C. and Stephen Peters, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich. Submit your abstract online before 24 July 2001 at the conference website.

Second World Water Congress of the International Water Association (IWA), Berlin 15-19 Oct 2001

Selected proceedings are available online for purchase.

9th Congress of Toxicology (ICT-IX) Brisbane Australia 8-12 Jul 2001

Organized by the International Union of Toxicology. Visit the conference website for more info.

Arsenic session - Symposium 11: Human effects of chronic arsenic poisoning. Speakers already scheduled include: Dr. KS Subramanian, Canada; Dr. Alan Hall, USA; Prof Marie Vahter, Sweden; and Prof Chien-Jen, Taiwan.

World Chemistry Congress 2001, Brisbane, Australia, 1 - 6 Jul 2001

WCC 2001 incorporates the following meetings:

  • IUPAC Congress 1 to 6 July 2001 
  • IUPAC General Assembly 29 June to 8 July 2001 
  • 9th Asian Chemical Congress 1 to 4 July 2001 
  • AIMECS 01 3 to 6 July 2001

Scientific themes relevant to arsenic crisis - Environmental chemistry and the greening of industry: Chemical synthesis, processing & analysis for improved environmental impact; Chemistry of Responsible Care; Atmospheric, urban air and water chemistry. Visit the conference website for more info.

International Symposium on Environmental Toxicology of Metals and Metalloids - Environmental Chemistry, Toxicology & Health, Queensland Australia, 1-5 Jul 2001

Hosted by the National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology, NRCET. South Molle Isand, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia. This conference code-named "Metals 2001" will focus on harmful metals and metalloids with special interest on carcinogenic elements. Conference themes include environmental chemistry, specialised speciation techniques for better characterisation of exposure, mechanism of toxicity, health effects/treatment, risk assessment, risk management and remediation. Arsenic deserves a lot of attention and time at this conference. "Australian scientific communities invite their colleagues from around the world to participate in an international symposium on carcinogenic metals and metalloids on the Great Barrier Reef, a famous world heritage marine park area. The venue is ideally situated in the heart of the Whitsunday Islands and is naturally blessed with secluded beaches, an enviable climate and access to one the world's natural wonders, the Great Barrier Reef. July is the perfect time to visit the reef with a temperature ranging from mid 20 to high 20s C."  Visit the conference website for more info.

Water Days at Alliance Francaise, 31 May-6 Jun, Dhaka

From 31 May to 16 June, Sun-Thu 9am-12 noon & 5-8pm. Program includes: 

  • A series of posters with audio-visual support structured around seven main theme dealing with important social aspects of water
  • A permanent exhibition of the French BCEOM currenlty working on the improvement of Dhaka's water distribution system
  • Internet access and documentation regarding the subject
  • Two permanent exhibitions by UNICEF and WaterAid
  • In the movie room, a series of documentaries focusing on "water issues and research"
  • Three special evenings:
  • Thu 31 May 4-6pm - Official opening with a presentation by UNICEF
  • Thu 7 June 6pm - BCEOM presentation on water distribution system of Dhaka
  • Fri 8 June 5-8pm - Round table discussion with specialists from UNICEF, WaterAid, WHO, WARPO, BCEOM, Dhaka WASA, and others.

BUET- UNU International Workshop On Technologies For Arsenic Removal From Drinking Water, Dhaka 5-7 May 2001

See the final report and proceedings on the UNU server.

USGS Workshop on Arsenic in the Environment, Denver CO, 21-22 February 2001 

Final abstracts available online.

Third International India Bangladesh Symposium, "On reducing the impact of toxic chemicals in the Bengal Basin," 10-12 Feb Calcutta &  14-16 Feb 2001 Dhaka

Abstracts available online.  Sponsored by GRA International.  

2000

Fall 2000 Meeting of the American Geophysical Union

Available online:  list of 36 abstracts containing the word "arsenic."  This list is in order by title, and each title is hyperlinked to the full text of the  abstract.

"Arsenic in Groundwater of Sedimentary Aquifers," Pre-Congress Workshop at the 31st International Geological Congress, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 3-5

Available online:  the full text of the abstract volume (2.5M .pdf file).   

Fourth International Conference on Arsenic Exposure and Health Effects, San Diego, CA, June 18-22

Available online:  conference home page and abstracts (speakers & posters).  The conference proceedings have been published in book form.  See the publisher's page for this book,which provides a description, the table of contents, and bibliographic & ordering information.

3rd International Arsenic Conference, Dhaka Community Hospital, Dhaka, Date: 13-14 May

Organized by Dhaka Community Hospital Supported by UNICEF.

"Reducing the Impact of Toxic Chemicals on Bengal Basin Economies," 6-11 March

Abstracts available online.  March 6- 8 in Dhaka; 9- 11 in Calcutta.  Sponsored by GRA International.  

"International Conference on Bangladesh Environment", 14-15 January, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstracts available online.  Organized by Poribesh Rokkah Shapoth, Bangladesh Environment Network, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Coalition for Environmental NGOs.

"International Workshop on Control of Arsenic Contamination in Ground Water," Calcutta India, 5&6 January

Abstracts available online.  Contact: Asesh Ray, Member Secretary Organising Committee & Chief Engineer, Water Quality Management P.H. Engineering Directorate, Government of West Bengal. Tel +91(33)449-8531/8011/8223 and +91(33)439-8012/9673/8227/8228. Fax +91(33)439-8013. Email cemephed@cal2.vsnl.net.in .

1999

"Contaminants in the Soil Environment in the Asia-Pacific Region," New Delhi India, 12-17 Dec 1999

Conference themes:
  •       Urban and mining wastes
  •       Environmental protection: perspectives of inorganic and organic
  •       contaminants
  •       Remediation of contaminated sites - analytical, technological and social
  •       perspectives Risk assessments, regulatory and ethical perspectives
  •       Managing environment for sustained preservation of water
See the conference website for more info.

"Rotary Peace Conference For Arsenic-Free Water", Calcutta India, 26-28 November 1999

Email contact carnation@gems.vsnl.net.in .

ISEE/ISEA Conference, Athens, Greece, 5-8 Sep 1999

Selected abstracts dealing with arsenic pollution and exposure posted at the Arsenic Project, Harvard University.

Pan Asia-Pacific Conference on Fluoride and Arsenic Reserach. 15-20 Aug 1999, Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, China

Sponsored by the Fluoride and Arsenic Society of China (FASC).  "In China at least 100 million people live in naturally high fluoride regions and two million live in arsenic poisoned ones, with most of the latter also affected by high fluoride. The Fluoride and Arsenic Society of China was founded in 1996 to study and control the serious situation. This first international conference aims to share the expertise of Chinese scientists with other experts from around the world, especially those from the Asian and Pacific region, with a view to working together to combat the situation where it occurs. Shenyang is one of the most famous historical and cultural cities of China. Shenyang International Airport is about 45 minutes by air from Beijing, and 90 minutes from Shanghai. Further information, and registration forms, can be obtained from: Professor Sun Guifan, School of Public Health, China Medical University, 92 Beier Road, Shenyang 110001, China. Phone/Fax 86 24 23871744.  E-mail sungf@iris.cmu.edu.cn.

Arsenic pollution in Bangladesh: its causes, effects and mitigation.  27- 28 June 1999, Rajshahi University

National workshop organized by the Rajshahi University Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Life & Earth Sciences.    Email rajucc@citechco.net or rucc@swadesh.net.

American Geophysical Union, Boston, USA, June 1-4 1999.  Session H22 on arsenic in groundwater

Abstracts  posted at the Arsenic Project, Harvard University.

Arsenic in Groundwater: Searching for Alternatives to Rural Water Supply, 22 Mar 1999 "World Water Day," Dhaka.

Organized by NGO Forum for Drinking Water Supply & Sanitation.  Proceedings in .pdf format.

"World's Greatest Arsenic Calamity" Conference, February 27-28, 1999, Wagner College, Staten Island, New York, USA.

Organized and Sponsored by Bangladesh Chemical and Biological Society of North America, USA, and Intronics Technology Center, Shewrapara, Dhaka, Bangladesh.    Abstracts posted by the Arsenic Project, Harvard University.

International Symposium and Workshops: "The Bengal Basin: the Impacts of Toxic Chemicals and Pollutants on Public Health," Santiniketan, Bengal, India and Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2 - 8 March 1999

Abstracts available online.  "The environmental and public health problems to be found in the Bengal Basin are the most challenging anywhere. In the global economy, which is our present and future, the activities in one part of the world will impact lives in other parts of the world. We are part of a global ecology, environmental isolationism is no more tenable in the long term than economic isolationism, threats to public health know no boundaries, and problems do not go away by ignoring them. The problems in the Bengal Basin impact us all.

"The purpose of the symposium and workshops is first to identify those public health and environment problems caused by toxic chemicals and pollutants."

Contact information: The symposium is being organized by GRA International, a not-for-profit company with offices in Berkeley, Calcutta, and Dhaka, that provides environmental and ecology services to Asia (U.S. tax ID 94-3312242).

KTH-Dhaka University Seminar on Groundwater Arsenic Contamination in the Bengal Delta Plains of Bangladesh, 7-8 Feb 1999

The seminar site includes the programme and list of papers presented, and the abstracts, but not, when I checked, a link to the proceedings.

1998

International Workshop on Arsenic Problem and Water Resource Management in Bangladesh, 14-15 December 1998, Dhaka Community Hospital & Emergency Arsenic Programme of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Workshop brings together concerned funding agencies, government policy makers, research institutions and NGOs for an update on the latest findings, an opportunity to exchange ideas, and thereby to strengthen current activities to lead to sustainable, community-based water management. Results are presented from the 200 villages covered by the Emergency Arsenic Mitigation Programme (Rapid Action Programme - RAP) implemented by DCH. [Proceedings available online]

Third International Conference on Arsenic Exposure and Health Effects, 12-15 July 1998 San Diego, Society of Environmental Geochemistry and Health (SEGH)

Proceedings available in book form.  This conference focuses on latest exposure and health-related research from around the world. Distinguished invited speakers include C.-J. Chen, J. Froines, V. Aposhian, T. Rossman, K. Brown, K. Irgolic, M. Vahter, I. Thornton, D. Menzel, V. Bencko, M. Cebrian, and A. Smith. The sessions will include sources, geochemistry, mechanisms, dose-response, remediation, patient care, exposure (several countries will be represented), epidemiology (cancer and noncancer), bioavailability, metabolism, and other related subjects.

Contact information: Dr. Willard Chappell, University of Colorado at Denver. Campus Box 136 P.O. Box 173364 Denver, CO 80217-3364. Fax (303)556-4292. Email as98@carbon.cudenver.edu. Website: http://thunder1.cudenver.edu/envsci/as98/index.html 

International Conference on Arsenic Pollution of Ground Water in Bangladesh: Causes, Effects, and Remedies 8-12 February 1998

The Dhaka conference 8-12 February 1998 was jointly organized by Dhaka Community Hospital Trust, and the School of Environment Studies, Jadavpur University, Calcutta, . The conference covered the following areas (see also the conference abstract list which links to a few abstracts and papers):
  • Immediate and long-term alternative sources of safe water, such as deep tubewell water and surface water, and the role of watershed management,
  • Water treatment methods
  • Epidemiology; treatment to those already suffering from arsenicosis; arsenic toxicity in children
  • Simple and affordable analytical techniques for arsenic determination in water, urine, hair, nail, and skin-scale in Bangladesh context; surveys, use of field kits, awareness campaigns, role of nutrition
  • Source and mechanism of arsenic contamination; role of geologists, geohydrologists, geochemists
Approximately 110 participants participated from abroad. A video and the abstract volume will be available for sale from the Conference Secretariat.

1997 and earlier

Arsenic Exposure and Health Hazards Conference, Taiwan, October 1997

Brief description of the conference by Ben Cave.

Second International Conference on Arsenic Exposure and Health Effects,  Society of Environmental Geochemistry and Health (SEGH), 1996

Proceedings available in book form or from Kluwer.  

International Conference on Arsenic, Calcutta, Feb 1995

First International Conference on Arsenic Exposure and Health Effects,  Society of Environmental Geochemistry and Health (SEGH), 1994

Proceedings available in book form from Barnse&Noble or from  Science & Technology Letters.