Arsenic has been an issue of major concern in last decades because of the serious impact on human health coming from drinking water and certain food with low-medium levels of arsenic for prolonged periods of time. Globally, more than 100 million people are at risk. Since 2006, six events of International Congress on “Arsenic in the Environment” have been held in different areas of the world: Mexico 2006, Spain 2008, Taiwan 2010, Australia 2012, Argentina 2014, and Sweden 2016.

Arsenic in drinking water (mainly groundwater) has emerged as a global health concern. During last decade, the presence of arsenic in rice, possibly also other food of plant origins, has attained increasing attention.

This is particularly true in the Asian countries, the use of high arsenic groundwater as agricultural irrigation water and drinking water sources has been flagged as severe health concern. This has been accentuated by elevating arsenic concentrations in deep groundwater recharged from shallow high arsenic groundwater, which may have further detrimental effects on public health. Notably, China has been in the forefront of research on arsenic biogeochemical cycling, health effects of arsenic, technologies for arsenic removal, and sustainable mitigation measures.

With a global perspective, the 7th International Congress & Exhibition on Arsenic in the Environment will take place in the city of Beijing, China, from 1 to 6 July 2018. Known as As2018, the Congress will be themed by “Environmental Arsenic in a Changing World”, and endorsed by the Executive Board of the International Society of Groundwater for Sustainable Development (ISGSD).