BHTV's video: Arsenic in Water and Health

Arsenicosis is an emerging problem in several Indian states over the last two decades. However, there are countries like Bangladesh, Taiwan, and Chile where people have been affected since a long time. The common manifestations of arsenicosis develop in severity over several years, from skin discoloration that may be viewed as a cosmetic issue, painful skin lesions that can be disabling, to involvement of various internal organs. Rarer, but most serious, is the fact that cancers have been linked causally to chronic arsenicosis. It is evident from literature and my experience on the ground in rural Bihar, that the problem has, in addition to the bio-medical dimensions, causal environmental linkages, and economic, social, and psychological ramifications. To understand the complexities of arsenicosis and deal with it as a public health problem, therefore, requires an interdisciplinary examination. Asrarul Haque Jeelani is currently pursuing Ph.D. from the Centre of Social Medicine and Community Health, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India. He has received an M.Phil degree from the same center on health and social implications of Arsenic contamination of groundwater. Partially in continuation with the M.Phil work, now he is researching on water-borne diseases and water resource management in Bihar, India. He has done his graduation and post-graduation in Social Work from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, and Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, respectively. His research interest areas are primarily on water and water-related health issues however he is also exploring topics related to films and literature on public health and water issues to find out the artistic expressions on it. Besides the academic, he writes blog on different social issues and story in the Urdu language.