Development of indicators within different policy contexts for endemic arsenic impacts in the People's Republic of China

Exposure of people to elevated naturally occurring arsenic concentrations ( endemic arsenic) in drinking water and/or coal smoke has caused serious hea lth problems at specific sites in China. The decision-makers at central or local government need much detailed information on each environmental-healt h problem but in a format suitable for planning and management purposes. Th is paper describes three conceptual indicator sets based on the pressure-st ate-impact-response framework that arranges the arsenic biogeochemical and human health issues within a policy context. Chinese data have been organis ed into descriptive indicators that report the past occurrence of endemic a rsenism and response indicators that report on current actions. Many Chines e data have been incorporated into the two sets of indicators divided into pressure, state, impact and response parameters. A performance indicator se t is also advanced for long-term future management of endemic arsenism in C hina but much essential data have not yet been calculated to enable these i ndicators to be adopted. A requirement for further necessary data collectio n for further indicator construction for more effective management is discu ssed.