1. 2009 International Workshop on Arsenic and Humic Substances and Their Health Effects Date: May 11-12, 2009 Venue: May 11-12, 2009, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), International Conference Hall, Tainan City, Taiwan Organized by: Department of Earth Sciences, NCKU, Tainan City, Taiwan Sponsored by: (1) Top 100 University Advancement Office, NCKU, Tainan City, Taiwan; (2) National Science Council, Taiwan;(3)Water Resources Agency, Ministry of Economic Affairs

2. Aim and Theme: Arsenic is an element that has attracted people’s attention since ancient times. It used to be considered as a powerful poison, and it is now in the news as a result of the largest environmental calamity in Asia. This has led to the rediscovery of arsenic despite it always exists in the environment as a “silent” toxin in the world. Every year, new areas with arsenic in environments exceeding the maximal contamination levels set by international organizations are identified. Scientific interest in arsenic has increased remarkably since the last century. By using the ISI Web of Knowledge as a search tool, there were 23,144 published articles on arsenic in its database for the period 1956-2007. Among them, 6,764 have been published in the 21st century. The increase in scientific publications has been spectacular in areas such as environmental sciences, food, metabolism, health and remedy. Arsenic is an old toxin offering unparalleled opportunities for research. 2008 International Workshop on Arsenic and Humic Substances and Their Health Effects in the First International workshop on Arsenic in the Environment, was held on May 13-14, 2008 at National Cheng Kung University. As a result of that event plans have been made to hold a series of annual workshop with same venues. These events, would provide participants with an up-to-date, global view of the arsenic studies at a multi- and interdisciplinary level. The Second International workshop on Arsenic in the Environment with theme of“Arsenic and Humic Substances and Their Health Effects” will be held at International Conference Hall, National Cheng Kung University from May 11-12, 2009 The topics to be covered in the upcoming Workshop will be grouped under the following headings: * Geogenic distribution of arsenic in the aquifers * Mitigation of arsenic * Accumulation of arsenic in biological systems * Complexation behavior of different metal oxides in sediments * Geomicrobiology and release mechanism of arsenic * Toxicological and carcinogenic studies in identifying the causes of Blackfoot disease and tumor formation.

3. International collaborators: 1.Prof. Jochen BundschuhInstituto Costarricense de Electricidad IC, San Jose, Costa Rica; UNSE, Argentina; UMSA, Bolivia. 2.Prof. Prosun BhattacharyaInternational Groundwater Arsenic Research Group, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm, Sweden. 3.Prof. Ming-Kuo LeeDepartment of Geology and Geography, College of Sciences and Mathematics, Auburn University, USA 4.Dr. Zhaohui LeeDepartment of geological science, University of Wisconsin- parkside, Wisconsin, USA 5.Dr. Thomas KulpU.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA. 6.Dr. Jyoti Prakash MaityIndia (At Present : National Chung Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan) 7.Dr. Sandeep KarIndia (At Present : National Chung Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan) 8.Dr. Golam MostafaInstitute of Environment Science, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh (At Present : National Chung Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan) 9.Mr. Selim RezaDepartment of Geology and Mining, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh (At Present : National Chung Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan) National collaborators: 1.Prof. Hui-Jen YangDepartment of Earth Science, NCKU, Tainan, Taiwan 2.Prof. Hua-Fen HsuDepartment of Chemistry, NCKU, Tainan, Taiwan 3.Prof. Bumiin HuangInstitute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, NCKU Medical College, Tainan, Taiwan 4.Prof. Chiun-Chuan LinDepartment of Geography, NTU, Taipei, Taiwan 5.Dr. Chia-Hung JenKaohsiung Normal University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 6.Dr. Yao-Chang leeNational Synchrotron Radiation Research Center (NSRRC), Hsinchu, Taiwan

4. Contact: Prof. Jiin-Shuh Jean, Department of Earth Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, 1, University Road, Tainan City, Taiwan; e-mail: jiinshuh@mail.ncku.edu.tw; website: http://www.myweb.ncku.edu.tw/~jiinshuh Organizer: Prof Jean-Shuh JeanDepartment of Earth Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Road, Tainan City, Taiwan; e-mail: jiinshuh@mail.ncku.edu.tw; Prof. Hsiao-Sheng LiuDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan e-mail: a713@mail.ncku.edu.tw Important notes: - All papers should be delivered in electronic form (Ms Word). - Deadline for submission of extended abstract: April 10,2009 - Maximum number of pages per paper: 2 pages (two column per page) - Deadline for registration: March 31, 2009 - To prepare your extended abstract, please find the file “Instruction for Author” and “IWAHGH-2009_Abstract_ Sample” from “Attachment”