Background        

Joseph H. Graziano, Mailman School of Public Health, Director
Alexander van Geen, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Associate Director

The Columbia University Superfund Basic Research Program on the "Health Effects and Geochemistry of Arsenic and Manganese" is part of a network of university SBRP grants funded and administered by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) in a coordinated effort with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The five-year Columbia SBRP competitive grant program was awarded in 2006. It follows Columbia’s previous SBRP grant on the "Health Effects and Geochemistry of Arsenic and Lead” (2000-2006).

The contamination of water and soils with Arsenic (As), and to a lesser extent Manganese (Mn), are associated with major public health, remedial, legal and environmental policy problems in the United States. Arsenic is found at 640 Superfund sites, while Mn is listed as a contaminant of concern at 359 sites. The potential impact of these elements spans far beyond the boundaries of Superfund sites. The EPA has estimated that 13 million U.S. residents are exposed to drinking water containing >10 µg/L, the U.S. standard effective as of January 2006. In South Asia, where As concentrations can achieve levels in the mg/L range, an estimated 100 million people are exposed, roughly 57 million in Bangladesh alone. The knowledge base concerning the health effects and geochemistry of As has expanded in the past five years, but many uncertainties remain. The relative lack of knowledge, coupled with the complex chemistry of these elements in soils, sediments, drinking water, and in the human body, pose enormous challenges to those who must make remedial or public health policy decisions. Collectively, the Columbia University multi-disciplinary Superfund Basic Research Program seeks to test hypotheses whose answers will directly assist environmental health policy decisions concerning As and, to a lesser extent, Mn in the environment. Our hope is that our research and the translation of our research into timely and effective applications will reduce hazardous exposures to populations both in the U.S. and abroad.

Columbia University receives $16.9 million award from National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to study origin and health effects of arsenic in ground water (23 Kb pdf)

"Health Effects and Geochemistry of Arsenic and Lead” (2000-2006) Archived Website

"Health Effects and Geochemistry of Arsenic and Manganese (2006-2011) Program Overview