Browsing by Author "Dayananda, M.D.N.R."

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Assessing Nephrotoxic Heavy Metal Contamination in Reservoir Sediments: Implications for Human Health and Aquatic Ecosystems
(Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine, 2024) Dayananda, M.D.N.R.; Liyanage, J.A.; Kannangara, S.D.
Background: Wetlands, often referred to as the "kidneys of the earth," play a crucial role in ecosystem services. This study focuses on reservoirs in dry zone, in Sri Lanka, recognizing their significance in fulfilling diverse ecological needs. Originality/Value: The research addresses the scarcity of studies linking Chronic Kidney Disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) hotspots with heavy metal contamination in reservoir sediments. Objective: The study aims to assess nephrotoxic heavy metal contaminations in reservoir sediments, specifically focusing on the potential health risks for humans through the ecological implications for aquatic ecosystems. Methodology: Ten (10) triplicated composite sediment samples were randomly collected from Ulhitiya, Diwulankadawala, Wahalkada, (within the CKDu hotspots), and Namaloya (the Reference) reservoirs. Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry was employed to determine metal concentrations followed by microwave digestion. Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) tool in ArcMap. 10.8 Software was used for the spatial interpolations. Findings: Ulhitiya, Diwulankadawala, and Wahalkada reservoirs exhibited elevated contents of Cd, Pb, As, Cr, Cu, and Zn in sediments than the reference. Sediment-bound As, Cu, Zn, and Cd were higher than NOOA-ERL and ERM levels and instead of Pb, all the other selected heavy metals exceeded the LELs, implicating harmful biological impacts on living organisms inhabiting the selected reservoirs in the CKDu hotspots. A clustering pattern in higher concentrations of Cd and Pb was observed near the water inputs of the reservoirs in CKDu endemic areas. Conclusions: Heavy metal contamination in reservoir sediments, particularly Cd and Pb, poses risks to aquatic ecosystems and human health through the food chain, especially in CKDu hotspots.
Investigation of water consumption pattern in University of Kelaniya
(Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Lekamge, M.L.D.; Dayananda, M.D.N.R.; Shanthamareen, M.; Weerasinghe, V.P.A.
Water Consumption is an environmentally and socially concerned aspect. Close observation of the water consumption pattern, help to apply water conservation measures effectively. The main objective of this study is to investigate the water consumption pattern in University of Kelaniya during last thirty-one (31) months from January 2014 to September 2016. During this period, university has received four water bills each month. Water bills and student intake details were collected from the administration division. Data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel. This study also investigated students’ attitudinal changes in water consumption after the implementation of the polythene prevention policy. A questionnaire survey was conducted among randomly selected 200 students in the Faculty of Science, in order to assess the water consumption pattern in Science Faculty canteen before and after the implementation of polythene prevention policy. The data obtained from administration division shows and increase in annual water consumption. The average monthly water consumption is 18,551.32m3 and average monthly cost for water consumption is 821,870.90 LKR. The average daily water consumption per head in the University is 0.06342 m3 (63.42L). According to the WHO (World Health Organization) standards about 20 L water per capita per day should be assured to maintain basic personal and food hygiene. The highest water consumption has observed in the canteens and hostels whereas the lecture halls have the lowest water consumption. According to the results the monthly water consumption and monthly total charge shows an increasing trend with fluctuations. From January to February there is a sharp increase of the monthly water consumption as a result of the student intake. A peak water consumption is observed during the March – April in each year. As a tropical country Sri Lanka receives high amount of solar radiation during that period. Therefore, the water consumption increases due to the temperature increase. The depressions in the curve is observed in the vacation and study leave periods. University of Kelaniya has implemented a polythene prevention policy beginning from the 1st of September, 2016. As a result of that the use of polythene and lunch sheets have been banned within the university canteens. The highest percentage of students shifted from university dinner packets to outside is observed during the dinner time is 20.5%. The highest percentage of students shifted from lunch packets to plates is observed during the lunch time is 43%. This might be affected to the water consumption due to washing plates. This is a preliminary study to investigate the water consumption pattern in the University of Kelaniya. There should be a well maintained database for identifying water consumption and to have separate water meters for each Faculty to apply water conservation methods according to the cleaner production policy. It will help to reduce the water consumption in each Faculty. Using those information water conservation strategies such as introduction of push taps, sensory taps and rain water harvesting system can be implemented in order to save more water.
Risk assessment of Nephrotoxic Metal Contaminations of Rice (Oryza sativa) in a CKDu Prevalence Area, Sri Lanka
(International Postgraduate Research Conference 2019, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2019) Dayananda, M.D.N.R.; Liyanage, J.A.
Sri Lanka is categorized in the G14 cluster of global dietary consumption groups according the WHO GEMS diet categorizations based on the high consumption of cereals, especially rice, in diets and rice significantly provided 30% of the dietary energy supply and 20% of the dietary protein intake. Chronic low levels of exposure to nephrotoxic metals can be occurred via rice consumption and the magnitude of such exposures have to be understood in order to assess the risk of adverse health effects such as CKDu and to propose suitable public health interventions. Therefore, present study attempts to assess the nephrotoxic metal contamination of rice (Oryza sativa) in a CKDu prevalence area; Girandurukotte Grama Niladhari Division (GND), Badulla District, Sri Lanka. 20 rice samples were collected from the households who are consuming rice from their own paddy fields and the dietary survey was carried out using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) during the period of June 2019 to determine the approximate quantity and frequency of rice intake over specific time periods. Rice samples were analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) for nephrotoxic metals; Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Arsenic (As), and Chromium (Cr) followed by the Microwave digestion. Descriptive statistics were performed by SPSS statistics software. Non-carcinogenic health risk from rice consumption was estimated using the hazard quotient (HQ - the ratio of determined dose of a pollutant to a reference dose level) and total hazard index (THI). The estimated weekly intake (EWI) values for selected metals were determined to assess the health risks. The mean metal concentrations (μg/g) of rice grains were 259.20 ± 54.00 (Pb), 216.00 ± 34.40 (Cd), 20.79 ± 3.65 (As) and 131.80 ± 35.90 (Cr). The rice ingestion and the exposure frequency was recorded as 330 g/person/day and 350 days/year respectively according to the FFQ. Calculated EWIs (μg/kg body weight) for the concerned metals were 25.92 (Pb), 21.56 (Cd), 0.42 (As) and 2.64 (Cr). EWIs for Pb and Cd were exceeding the provisional tolerable weekly intake values (PTWI) which have been set up by the WHO and EWI for Cr was complied with the PTWI level. The oral reference doses for the metals which used to estimate the hazard quotient (HQ) in mg/kg/day were: Pb = 0.004, Cd = 0.001, As = 0.014 and Cr (III) = 1.500 (USEPA 2000). The hazard quotient of 60 kg adult from rice consumption was in the order of Cd > Pb > As > Cr. Amongst the toxic metals, ingestion of Cd have the highest potential for adverse effect while Cr ingestion have the minimal potential. The total hazard index for rice consumption was 7.623 with relative contributions of selected nephrotoxic species; Pb (22.98%), Cd (76.46%), As (0.53%), and Cr (0.03%). Hence, rice is accumulating heavy metals with the use of heavy metal–laden chemicals for paddy cultivation and rice can be considered as a major exposure route for the dietary intake in Girandurukotte GND which is considered as a CKDu prevalence areas in Sri Lanka.