IRSPAS 2018
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/19084
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Item Assessment of hardness and selected anion contents of well water in Mahadivulwewa and Puhudivula grama niladari divisions in Madawachchiya divisional secretariat area(Research Symposium on Pure and Applied Sciences, 2018 Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Fernando, T. D.; Mathota-Arachchige, Y. L. N.Mahadivulwewa and Puhudivula grama niladari (GN) divisions of Madawachchiya divisional secretariat area are highly influenced by agricultural practices. These areas have reported the highest number of CKDu patients. People in these GN divisions have colonized as isolated villages. Therefore, in our study we have selected 10 sites in Mahadivulwewa and Puhudivula representing all villages to analyze the current situation of water quality in those areas. The Calcium, Magnesium, Fluoride, Nitrate, Nitrite, Sulphate, alkalinity, hardness conductivity, salinity and TDS levels were measured according to American Public Health Association (APHA) standards. Results were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 20 software. The Calcium level ranged between 17.30 - 101.35 mg/L and Magnesium level ranged between 4 - 102 mg/L. Fluoride (F-), Nitrate (NO3-), Nitrite (NO2-) and Sulphate (SO42-) levels ranged between 0.02 - 4.3 mg/L, 0 - 8 mg/L, 0.1 - 9.3 mg/L and 4 - 98 mg/L respectively. Alkalinity and hardness levels ranged between 20-250 CaCO3 (mg/L) and 59.7 - 608.9 CaCO3 (mg/L) respectively. With respect to Magnesium, Fluoride, hardness and alkalinity, water samples had exceeded SLS recommended levels by 66.7%, 51.7%, 71.2% and 2.6%, respectively. No water sample had exceeded the SLS recommended levels for NO3-, NO2- and SO42-. Even though there is no significant difference (P >0.05) with respect to above parameters between the sites, there was a slightly low conductivity levels in one site (with the highest percentage of CKDu patients) compared to the other sites. According to these results higher percentages of wells in these areas are not suitable for drinking purposes.Item Heavy metal analysis of selected fruits and vegetables grown in CKDu prevalent Medawachchiya area in Sri Lanka(Research Symposium on Pure and Applied Sciences, 2018 Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Hiruni, H. K.; Weerasooriya, M. K. B.In Sri Lanka, CKDu has become a major health issue over the past two decades. The disease is proved to be endemic. The number of environmental risk factors has been recognized globally as other probable causes of CKDu, such as exposure to heavy metals (cadmium, lead, mercury, and chromium), agrochemicals, and nephrotoxic substances. Hence, the current study was aimed to investigate whether there is any relationship between CKDu and heavy metal contaminants of selected fruits and vegetables grown in the effected area. Fruits of Mangifera indica (Mango), and Carica papaya (Papaw), leaves of Centella asiatica Gotukola), Talinum fruticosum (Gas nivithi), Amaranthus cruentus (Thampala) and fruit of Solanum torvum (Thibbattu) were selected for the study. Study was based on 15 sites of each Gramasevaka Niladhari (GN) area (Puhudiwula, Mahadiwulwewa, Unagaswewa) in Medawachchiya. Information of the about CKDu patients and above fruits and leafy vegetables (n=45) grown in their home gardens were collected during the Maha season. The content of Copper (Cu), Chromium (Cr), Cadmium (Cd) and Lead (Pb) in samples were analyzed using Flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. The results showed that leafy and fruity vegetables (Thibbattu) contain higher concentrations of heavy metals than fruits. The concentrations of Cu, Cr, Cd and Pb detected in the vegetable and fruit samples were ranged from 3.64 ± 0.07 to 23.60 ± 0.14 mg/kg, 0.60 ± 0.09 to 17.11 ± 0.16 mg/kg, 0.08 ± 0.03 to 0.88 ± 0.00 mg/kg and 0.18 ± 0.08 to 7.70 ± 1.48 mg/kg (dry weight basis) respectively. None of the fruits and vegetables tested in three study areas exceeded WHO safe limit for Cu, 40 mg/kg. All the Mango and papaya samples tested below safe limit of 4 tested metals. Regarding the leafy and fruity vegetables all the samples at Mahadivulwewa, nearly 95% samples at Puhudivula and 70% at Ungaswewa exceed the safe limit for Cd. Nearly 20% of leafy vegetables at Mahadiwulwewa,10% at Ungaswewa and Puhudivula exceed the safe limit for Pb whereas nearly 80% of leafy vegetables at three tested areas exceed the safe limit for Cr. Of the 15 sites selected, 13 patients at Mahadivulwewa, 07 and 05 patients at Puhudivula and Ungaswewa were recorded respectively. Heavy contamination of Cd recorded in the leafy and fruity vegetables in the home gardens of Mahadivulwewa could be one of the risk factor accounts for higher number of CKDu patients. Cd accumulation in renal cortex reported to cause renal damage decreasing Glomeular Filtration rate. However, further analysis is required to establish this fairly conclusively.Item Analysis of selected, commercially available inorganic fertilizers and soil NPK content in Puhudivula; Medawachchiya(Research Symposium on Pure and Applied Sciences, 2018 Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Sahlah, M. A. H. F.; De Silva, R. C. L.The increased prevalence of CKDu confined to specific geographical regions and among specific occupational groups of Sri Lanka has drawn the attention of scientific community in recent years. This study was conducted to investigate possible contributions of inorganic fertilizer usage on the disease prevalence at Puhudivula; Medawachchiya. Five commercially available fertilizer samples (Urea, TSP, MOP, TOP and Chili mix) most commonly used in the study area were analyzed for their NPK content and trace metal amounts. The NPK composition, calcium content and physiological properties of soil were also analyzed in five selected sites. The total nitrogen amounts were determined using standard Kjeldahl procedure. Total phosphate content of fertilizers was analyzed using ammonium vanadomolybdate method while both total phosphate and inorganic phosphate amounts in soil were determined using molybdenum blue method. The potassium and calcium amounts were determined using flame photometry. The percentage NPK compositions of the analyzed fertilizer samples agree with the percentage compositions listed by the manufacturers for each fertilizer. However, less total nitrogen and less phosphate percentages were measured in Urea and TSP respectively. The NPK composition of soil followed N% > K% > P% order with overall mean concentration of NPK between 279.4-1537.3 mg/kg, 32.4-193.7 mg/kg and 3.0-25.5 mg/kg respectively. The mean calcium concentration in soil was high, ranged from 537.27-1007.75 mg/kg. The trace metals Cd, Pb, Cr, Zn, Cu and Fe in fertilizer samples were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. From the analyzed trace metals, Fe exhibited a remarkable presence in all analyzed fertilizers except Urea with an overall mean concentration >1550.0 mg/kg and the mean concentrations of Cd, Pb and Cr followed the phosphate percentage by weight. Cd and Pb mean concentrations ranged from 0.23-1.80 mg/kg and 0.94-7.17 mg/kg respectively and were below the WHO maximum acceptable concentrations. According to the results, the addition of fertilizers did not increase the heavy metal levels in soil significantly unless it accumulates, and the excessive use of inorganic fertilizers mainly the ammonium-based fertilizers in already nitrogen enriched soils indicates to be causing the acidification of soils and it is evident that it may be mobilizing the calcium ions from its immobile form. This study provides new data to relevant authorities to limit the excessive annual fertilizer input on these lands through proper NPK analysis prior to application.Item Determination of variation components of harvested rice seeds grown in selected areas of four grama niladari divisions in North Central Province(Research Symposium on Pure and Applied Sciences, 2018 Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Weerakoon, T.; Jayawardane, B. M.During the last two decades, alarmingly high incidences of kidney failure and some associated deaths have become very significant in certain parts of Madawachchiya district and Uva Province and North Central Province. Since rice is the staple food of Sri Lankans, identification of variation components in rice seeds will be beneficial. Hence, this study aimed to find variation components in rice seeds grown in areas severely affected and not affected by Chronic Kidney Disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) in the North Central Province. After having a discussion with the farmers, rice seed samples of Bg 355 was collected from four grama niladari divisions, Karambankulama, Unagaswewa, Angunachchiya and Kirgollewa. Three samples from each division were randomly collected from different paddy fields which were treated with Compo and M-60 weedicides and the collected samples were stored for 6 months. Certain components of rice seeds such as starch, total flavonoids, free amino acids, crude fiber and crude protein content of rice seeds were tested. Free amino acids was analyzed by Moore and Stein method, flavonoids by Aluminum Chloride colorimetric method, crude fiber was analyzed by filtration method, starch by iodine test and crude protein amount was analyzed by Kjeldahal method. Triplicates (n=3) were done for each assay for each division. Since added fertilizer is common for all the samples, components which vary depend only on the geographical location within the province. Statistical analysis was done using Mini tab 18 version. According to statistical analysis, free amino acids and crude fiber content in Bg 355 rice seeds were comparatively higher in Kirigollewa (0.6750 ± 0.0636) and Angunachchiya (0.6600 ± 0.0283) areas severely affected by CKDu compared to Unagaswewa (0.3950 ± 0.0212) and Karambankulama (0.3800 ± 0.0141) areas less affected by CKDu. Total flavonoids were lesser in rice seeds in Kirigollewa (0.055 ± 0.007) and Angunachchiya (0.075 ± 0.007) areas severely affected by CKDu when compared to Unagaswewa (0.155 ± 0.007) and Karambankulama (0.135 ± 0.007) areas less affected by CKDu. Contents of starch and crude protein amount, does not show any significant difference related to CKDu affected and nonaffected areas. Therefore, this analysis suggests that free amino acids, total flavonoids and crude fiber contents in rice seeds vary depending on the geographical location within the North Central Province. Further experiments in different areas and geographical locations are needed to confirm the variation of these components depending on the geographical location.Item Detection of cylindrospermopsin and microcystin-LR in well water of CKDu prevalent Medirigiriya, Sri Lanka(Research Symposium on Pure and Applied Sciences, 2018 Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Abeysiri, H.A.S.N.; Wanigasuriya, K.; Manage, P.M.Cyanobacterial blooms in aquatic systems have increased over recent decades. Many of the blooms are highly toxic, causing a serious hazard to human and animal health. The commonest cyanotoxins are hepatotoxins such as microcystin-LR (MC-LR) and cylindrospermopsin (CYN). Cyanotoxin has been proposed as one of the causative agents for CKDu in Sri Lanka and recent studies have revealed the contamination of drinking dug wells by toxin-producing cyanobacteria in the North Central, Uva and Eastern provinces. Thus, the present study was carried out to determine the contamination of CYN and MC-LR in randomly selected CKDu patients’ household well water. The study was carried out for both dry and wet seasons and water samples were collected from 42 wells in Medirigiriya and 21 wells from Hambanthota as a control area. Water temperature, pH, conductivity, Dissolved Oxygen (DO) were measured at the site itself using standard methods. N-NO3-, N-NO2-, N-NH3, total phosphorous and total hardness were measured by standard spectrophotometric and titrimetric methods. CYN and MC-LR quantification were done using ELISA detection kits (Beacon) (minimum detection limit 0.1 ppb). Identification and enumeration of cyanobacteria were carried out under a light microscope (×400). The results of the study revealed that all the tested general water quality parameters were within the Sri Lanka standards given for potable water. Mean cell densities of Microcystis sp. were varying during dry season from 60 ± 0.03 cells/mL to 307 ± 0.08 cells/mL and from 48 ± 0.07 cells/mL to 127 ± 0.73 cells/mL during wet season where MC-LR ranged from 0.02 to 6.73 µg/L and from 0.01 to 5.34 µg/L during dry and wet seasons respectively. Mean cell densities of Cylindrospermopsis sp. during dry and wet season ranged between 20 ± 0.02 cells/mL to 82 ± 0.29 cells/mL and 14 ± 0.19 cells/mL to 76 ± 0.78 cells/mL respectively, whereas the mean concentrations of CYN during dry and wet season was between 0.38 ± 0.01 µg/L to 1.45 ± 0.08 µg/L and 0.27 ± 0.04 µg/L to 1.25 ± 0.08 µg/L. Cyanotoxins and cyanobacteria were not recorded from well water collected from Hambanthota. Principal Component Analysis was done for cyanotoxin concentration, water quality parameters and a number of CKDu patients in the study area and shows a positive relationship between cyanotoxin in wells and CKDu patients who consume water from the wells (p<0.05).