IRSPAS 2017

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/18078

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    Monitoring the accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the water bodies around Kelanitissa and Kerawalapitiya power plants in Sri Lanka.
    (International Research Symposium on Pure and Applied Sciences, 2017 Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Chandrasiri, H. M. H. B.; Doole, F. T.; Subramanium, S. S.
    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of environmental contaminants which are formed due to natural processes such as forest fires and anthropogenic activities including incomplete combustion of organic matter (eg. wood, carbon, coke, fossil fuel etc.). These ubiquitous contaminants have attracted attention due to their toxicity and carcinogenicity. The Agency for the Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) have identified 16 PAHs as priority pollutants based on their health effects. In this study, the water samples which were collected from Sebastian canal near Kelanitissa power plant and Hamilton canal near Kerawalapitiya power plant were extracted using dichloromethane and were analyzed by HPLC with UV-DAD (254 nm) and FLD (excitation at 250 nm, emission at 410 nm) detectors. This study aim to determine the seasonal variation and accumulation trend of the PAH content in water bodies around Kelanitissa and Kerawalapitiya power stations in Sri Lanka. The study revealed the presence of low, medium and high molecular weight PAHs in the water samples obtained from Sebastian canal near Kelanitissa power plant and Hamilton canal near Kerawalapitiya power plant. Total concentration of PAHs in surface water samples obtained from Sebastian canal during rainy season (April 2015), dry season (July 2015) and rainy season (June 2016) were 0.11-1.71 μg/L, 2.36-14.68 μg/L and 6.88 μg/L - 10.05 μg/L, respectively. Furthermore, PAH content in water samples obtained from Hamilton canal during rainy season (April 2015), dry season (July 2015) and rainy season (April 2016) were 0.16-2.74 μg/L, 11.06- 54.89 μg/L and 5.35 - 7.79 μg/L, respectively. As expected, high amount of PAHs were detected during the dry season due to the accumulation. However, the total PAHs in the Sebastian canal during the rainy season of June 2016 has shown a significantly high amount than during the rainy season of April 2015. Also the same trend can be observed in Hamilton canal where high amount of PAHs were detected during the rainy season of April 2016 than during the rainy season of April 2015. This may indicate an accumulation of PAHs with time in the water bodies near the power plants. Further monitoring for longer durations is required to identify the accumulation trend.
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    Assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals in the vicinity of an oil refinery in Sri Lanka using moss as a bioindicator.
    (International Research Symposium on Pure and Applied Sciences, 2017 Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Nirmani, L. P. T.; Deeyamulla, M. P.
    Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals are toxic compounds emitted from various anthropogenic sources and have a great effect on the human health as well as on the environment. Population living closer to the vicinity of an oil refinery may be at a greater risk of exposure to PAHs through inhalation, ingestion, and direct contact with the contaminated media. Atmospheric deposition of pollutants occur through both wet and dry deposition. Biomonitoring agent and passive monitoring technique were used in this study to evaluate heavy metal and PAH content in moss (Hyophila Involuta) collected from 30 sampling sites around the Sapugaskanda oil refinery with a 5 km radii. Sample collection was carried out in two separate days in September 2016. This study aimed to obtain a possible correlation between the atmospheric deposition of heavy metals and radial distribution pattern using epiphyte mosses collected from each sites. 16 PAHs were identified and quantified using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Bioaccumulation ability of seven heavy metals (Cr, Ni, Cd, Cu, Pb, Fe and Zn) were evaluated by Ion coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP – MS). Contamination factor (CF) and Pollution loading index (PLI) were determined with reference to the background heavy metal concentration values. Maximum heavy metal accumulation was observed in a 2 km radii from the oil refinery. All the sampling sites showed CF>1 except for heavy metals Cr and Cd in few sampling sites. Pollution loading index for each radius showed a higher value with reference to the background levels. Low molecular weight (LMW) PAHs move away from the source (Sapugaskanda refinery) and high molecular weight (HMW) PAHs deposit near the emission source. Total concentration of carcinogenic PAHs varied from 0.25 to 13.75 ng/g. According to the study, total PAHs deposition observed around the vicinity of the oil refinery was in the range of 20 – 4398 ng/g. Due to the similar pollution sources, PAHs have often been found to coexist with environmental pollutants including heavy metals. Correlation studies were carried out statistically. There was a positive correlation between the Fe with Low molecular weight Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (LMW PAH) and High molecular weight polyaromatic hydrocarbons (HMW PAH) (p< 0.05). There were few correlations among several metals. Fe showed a positive correlation with metals such as Ni, Cu and Cd whereas Ni showed positive correlation with Cu and Cd. There was no significant correlation among other metals and PAHs. (p> 0.05).