This document published by the Arsenic Policy Support Unit of the Government of Bangladesh on the social aspects of arsenic and arsenic mitigation consists of three chapters:

Chapter 1: Social aspects on arsenic contamination of drinking water: a review of knowledge and practice in Bangladesh and West Bengal

• Executive summary
• Introduction
• Health issues
  • Epidemiological studies of arsenic-related morbidity
  • Gender and arsenicosis: epidemiological studies
  • Social issues associated with arsenicosis in women
  • Arsenicosis and poverty
  • Other health problems associated with arsenic
  • Health risk substitution associated with alternative water sources
• Social factors and responses to the arsenic problem
  • Poor people’s priorities
  • People’s perceptions of arsenic
  • Women’s interests and women’s capacity to participate
• What the experts see as their biggest problems
• Community mobilisation and staff training
  • A project implemented directly by DPHE
  • Staff training
  • Using available ‘social capital
• Current and potential roles of local institutions
  • DASCOH LGI project in north-western districts
  • The urgent need for local water quality monitoring capacity
  • Arsenic Mitigation Committees and others
• Conclusions and recommendations
• References

Chapter 2: Gender concerns in arsenic mitigation in Bangladesh: Trends and challenges

• Introduction
• Objectives
• Methodology
• Research findings and discussion
  • Gender division of labour and coping mechanisms
  • Workload in relation to collecting water
  • Distance to water sources
  • Changes in water collection due to arsenic mitigation
  • Drinking water habits
  • Gendered socio-economic impacts
  • Gendered perception and awareness
  • Gender and health concerns
  • Gender and community management
• Conclusion
• References

Chapter 3: The arsenic crisis in Bangladesh and human rights issues

• Background
• What are human rights
• Why is arsenic poisoning a human rights issue?
• Strategic directions for addressing the human rights issues in relation to arsenic poisoning in Bangladesh
• Conclusion

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