EXPERIENCES IN TRAINING AND RESEARCH IN ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY IN INDIA – THE CASE OF ARSENIC IN DRINKING WATER WITH SPECIAL FOCUS ON CHILDRENʼS HEALTH

Abstract

ISEE-279 Although knowledge on the association between exposure to environmental agents and short and long term effects on children's health has increased over the last decade, there is a need for related training to support local researchers in conducting epidemiological studies in many countries. Health researchers and professionals from developing and transitional countries and regions should be enabled to conduct well designed epidemiological studies to investigate exposure and suspected health effects related to local priorities, such as from arsenic contaminated drinking water in South Asia. In different parts of India and Bangladesh millions of people including young children and women in child bearing age, are exposed to arsenic contaminated drinking water from natural geological sources, and often the population is not well informed about contaminated sources and risks. Children are thought to be at particular risk, and factors such as inadequate nutrition and living conditions may differentially increase their risk. The US NIH Fogarty program on International Training and Research in Environmental and Occupational Health (ITREOH) provides the framework for training and research collaboration between the US and developing countries. In our Fogarty funded ITREOH program in India, trainees work on specific research projects and are provided with the methodology and support to build their own capacity in India. Technology transfer is a key part of the program. Examples of successful training activities include intensive courses, regular lectures, and continuous support to local research projects and qualifications (e.g. PhD thesis on child development and arsenic, nutritional aspects of arsenic toxicity) in India, as well as training visits to UC Berkeley, during which specific skills are obtained. Lectures and exercises on the basic principles of epidemiology, as well as the development of specific study protocols and instruments for the individual studies are part of the training. As a feature of this effort, local networking among researchers is promoted. Special effort is required in West Bengal and other Asian countries and regions, to establish methods for meaningful intervention studies to test the effectiveness and feasibility of arsenic mitigation and integrated water safety programs under the specific local conditions. The overall goal of this project is to increase the local capacity in India in a sustainable way. This may support the implementation of effective interventions and policies to particularly protect the health of children and future generations.