International Research Symposium on Pure and Applied Sciences (IRSPAS)

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Author: search.filters.author.Botheju, W. S. M.

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    Assessment of groundwater contamination with environmental toxicants in CKDu endemic area, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka
    (4th International Research Symposium on Pure and Applied Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2019) Perera, W. P. R. T.; Dayananda, M. D. N. R; Botheju, W. S. M.; Liyanage, J. A.
    Chronic Kidney Disease unknown etiology (CKDu) is one of the major health impacts predominantly confined to people in North Central Province in Sri Lanka. The root courses for the disease prevalence have not found yet. Therefore, this investigation was carried out to determine the groundwater contamination with environmental toxicants: Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn), Arsenic (As), Iron (Fe), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg) Fluoride (F), Sodium (Na) and Aluminium (Al) in Dimbulagala Grama Niladhari Division (GND) in Polonnaruwa District, Sri Lanka. The study investigated the groundwater quality of Dimbulagala GND in dry zone of Sri Lanka to assess its suitability for drinking purposes. Only Ten working tube wells were found in the studied area and groundwater samples were collected from the tube wells. Basic physicochemical parameters (pH, temperature, conductivity and dissolved oxygen), (Hatch HQ14d) and fluoride content were determined (Orion Star- 2014) onsite. Environmental toxicant concentrations were determined using Inductive Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP–MS, Agilent 7800). Results were analyzed using SPSS statistical software. descriptive statistics were performed on the data set and the Pearson correlation was applied. According to the results obtained from the onsite investigations the mean values of pH, conductivity and fluoride content were 7.78 (+1.28), 520 us/cm (+148) and 1.20 mg/l (+0.32) respectively. The mean value of the fluoride content has exceeded the permissible limit (1.0 mg/L), (SLS 614-2013). It was highlighted that significant toxic heavy metals such as Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr) and Arsenic (As) levels as well as other metals like Fe, Cu, Zn, Na, Al have not been exceeded than permissible limits (SLS 614-2013). Statistically evaluation process proved none of the positive correlation is reported between heavy metal concentrations and Fluoride content of the groundwater in the studied area. But a negative correlation was reported between Fluoride and Cr (p= -0.05) in the groundwater in the studied area. Ca and Mg concentrations ranged between 3.43 mg/l to 130.56 mg/L And 6.54 mg/L to 75.32 mg/L respectively. Although mean Ca (10.12 mg/L) and Mg (15.45mg/L) did not exceed the permissible levels (100 mg/L and 30 mg/L for Ca and Mg), 40% and 50% of individual samples for Ca and Mg levels exceeded the permissible levels respectively. There is an urgent need for establishing proper long term drinking water treatment method for the studied area because of long term exposure to heavy metals such as Cd, Pb, Cr, As, and high levels of Fluoride as well as other environmental toxicants can be harmful to people. These findings can be used as a benchmark of raw water quality in the design processes of treatment plants
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    Investigation of spatial distribution of fluoride in drinking water sources in CKDu prevalence areas in Sri Lanka using GIS
    (4th International Research Symposium on Pure and Applied Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2019) Dayananda, M. D. N. R.; Botheju, W. S. M.; Perera, W. P. R. T.; Liyanage, J. A.
    Chronic Kidney Disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) has identified as a significant health burden in rural dry zone areas in Sri Lanka. Fluoride is recognized as a nephrotoxic contaminant which deteriorates the renal functions progressively and the drinking water could be the major source which is responsible for the disease occurrence. Therefore, the present study attempted to investigate the spatial distribution of fluoride in drinking water sources in CKDu prevalence hotspots in Sri Lanka using Geographical Information System (GIS). Triplicated drinking water samples were collected from 30 sampling locations (from dug wells) in each Grama Niladhari Division (GND) including Wewelketiya GND in Anuradhapura district, Ambagaswewa GND in Polonnaruwa district, Naminigama GND in Mathale district and Buddhangala GND in Ampara district (Reference site) in dry season, Sri Lanka (February – March, 2019). Fluoride contents of collected samples were analyzed using ion chromatography (Metrom Eco_IC instrument). Spatial distribution patterns were interpolated using inverse distance weighted (IDW) and spatial autocorrelation (Moran’s Index- MI) tools in ArcMap 10.2.2 software. Results indicated that the mean fluoride levels of the collected water samples of Ambagaswewa and Wewalketiya areas were 1.37 ± 0.66 mg/L and 1.26 ± 0.65 mg/L respectively and those results exceeded the Sri Lankan drinking water standards (SLS 614: 2013) (1.0 mg/L) but the mean fluoride levels relevant to Naminigama area (0.82 ± 0.59 mg/L) complied with the SLS standards. Further 80% of the samples in Ambagaswewa GND and 95% of samples in Wewalketiya GND were highly contaminated with fluorides which were exceeded the SLS standard limits. Significantly higher Fluoride concentration levels were shown in Ambagaswewa GND (P= 0.103) and Wewalketiya GND (P= 0.704) compared to the reference area of the study.As well as fluoride concentration of the reference area was evenly distributed (MI= -0.005) in very low levels compared to the selected hot spots. Fluoride distribution were clustered with higher levels (MI = 0.31) in Wewalketiya GND, and Fluoride levels were evenly distributed with higher levels in Ambagaswewa GND and Naminigama GND with the Moran’s Indices of -0.12 and -0.07 respectively. It can be concluded that fluoride can be one of the risk factors affecting the prevalence of the CKDu. As the people are at a risk with the long-term exposure to the high fluoride concentrations, it is very essential to innovate a proper and affordable drinking water treatment technology for the affected areas and findings of this study can be used as background water quality data in the design process