The work of Lamont scientists also addresses human health, from well-water quality near hydraulic fracturing sites and arsenic-contaminated land in Bangladesh to air quality for urban cyclists.<\/p>\n
Lamont scientists are providing the analysis needed to recognize the risks and find solutions.<\/p>\n
Battling the Largest Mass Poisoning in History<\/strong><\/p>\n What has become known as the largest mass poisoning in history started underground, where water filters through the rocks beneath South Asia.<\/p>\n In the 1960s and \u201870s, international development agencies began drilling shallow wells to replace sewage-laced surface water supplies that had been serving for drinking water, but there was a problem that wouldn\u2019t begin to show itself for several years: the new wells were bringing up water contaminated with naturally occurring arsenic. The result has been an epidemic of heart disease, cancers, lung problems, and compromised child development.<\/p>\n Researchers at Lamont, in collaboration with Columbia\u2019s Mailman School of Public Health, have been on the front lines of the response since 2000. They are currently leading a wide range of initiatives<\/a>. Lamont scientists are testing sediments to better understand the source of the problem and helping plan safer wells. They also developed simple tools to speed testing and cataloging of wells, including cheap, easy-to-use field water-sampling kits and cell-phone technology to register results to a central database.<\/p>\n