Abstract
Exposure of people to elevated naturally occurring arsenic concentrations (endemic arsenic) in drinking water and/or coal smoke has caused serious health problems at specific sites in China. The decision-makers at central or local government need much detailed information on each environmental-health problem but in a format suitable for planning and management purposes. This paper describes three conceptual indicator sets based on the pressure-state-impact-response framework that arranges the arsenic biogeochemical and human health issues within a policy context. Chinese data have been organised into descriptive indicators that report the past occurrence of endemic arsenism and response indicators that report on current actions. Many Chinese data have been incorporated into the two sets of indicators divided into pressure, state, impact and response parameters. A performance indicator set is also advanced for long-term future management of endemic arsenism in China but much essential data have not yet been calculated to enable these indicators to be adopted. A requirement for further necessary data collection for further indicator construction for more effective management is discussed.
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Peterson, P.J., Williams, W.P., Yang, L. et al. Development of Indicators Within Different Policy Contexts for Endemic Arsenic Impacts in the People's Republic of China. Environmental Geochemistry and Health 23, 159–172 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010943924911
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010943924911