Hydrogeochemical characterization of groundwater with a focus on Hofmeister ions and water quality status in CKDu endemic and CKDu non‒endemic areas, Sri Lanka.

Hydro-geochemistry of drinking water was characterized in chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) endemic areas in Girandurukotte (GK) and Dehiattakandiya (DH) and non-endemic areas in GK, DH, and Sewanagala (SW) in Sri Lanka to comprehend any potential risk factors for CKDu. Groundwater (n = 142) and surface water (n = 08) were sampled during wet and dry seasons and analyzed for major anions, cations and stable isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen (δH and δO). Besides the typical water quality analysis, the water quality status was determined using the weighted arithmetic water quality index (WQI) and Hofmeister ion exposure levels.

Stable Isotope and Element Profiling for Determining the Agroclimatic Origin of Cow Milk within a Tropical Country.

Information on the geographic origin of milk is important in determining quality attributes and for economic gain through building brand value associated with origin. Stable isotope signatures and trace element concentrations have been increasingly used in authentication of milk, though information on the power of such technology in verifying agroclimatic origin in small continents with diverse climatic, environmental conditions, and animal management practice is scarce. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to investigate the possibility of using a stable isotope composition of C, N, O, and H and element fingerprints to determine the agroclimatic origin of milk produced in different agroclimatic zones of Sri Lanka.

Antimony contamination and its risk management in complex environmental settings: A review.

Antimony (Sb) is introduced into soils, sediments, and aquatic environments from various sources such as weathering of sulfide ores, leaching of mining wastes, and anthropogenic activities. High Sb concentrations are toxic to ecosystems and potentially to public health via the accumulation in food chain. Although Sb is poisonous and carcinogenic to humans, the exact mechanisms causing toxicity still remain unclear.

Significance of Mg-hardness and fluoride in drinking water on chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology in Monaragala, Sri Lanka.

The epidemic of chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) that contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality rates among dry-zonal farming communities has become a public health priority in Sri Lanka. Though a large number of hypotheses were introduced as causative factors, none of them have been confirmed so far. As drinking water quality is among the most suspected causative factors for the emergence of CKDu, a detailed hydro-geochemical investigation was carried out concurrently with the population screening in the Monaragala district of Sri Lanka where high incidences of CKDu are reported.

Major and trace elements in rice paddy soils in Sri Lanka with special emphasis on regions with endemic chronic kidney disease of undetermined origin.

Environmental exposure to trace elements has been widely suspected as an etiological factor for the emergence of chronic kidney disease of undetermined origin (CKDu) that prevails in certain districts of the dry zone areas of Sri Lanka. Contaminated rice can be act as a host for potentially toxic trace elements that ultimately led to health hazards; thus, rice soils were investigated in detail, giving particular attentions to identified CKDu hotspots. A total of 102 rice soil samples were collected from main climatic zones viz.

Exposure Assessment of Fluoride Intake Through Commercially Available Black Tea (Camellia sinensis L.) from Areas with High Incidences of Chronic Kidney Disease with Undetermined Origin (CKDu) in Sri Lanka.

Fluoride is a beneficial trace element for human health as its deficiency and excess levels can cause detrimental health effects. In Sri Lanka, dry zone regions can have excessive levels of fluoride in drinking water and can cause dental and skeletal fluorosis. In addition to drinking water, traditional habits of tea consumption can cause an additional intake of fluoride in the population.

Masking Ability of Various Metal Complexing Ligands at 1.0 mM Concentrations on the Potentiometric Determination of Fluoride in Aqueous Samples.

Fluoride is a common anion present in natural waters. Among many analytical methods used for the quantification of fluoride in natural waters, potentiometric analysis is one of the most widely used methods because of minimum interferences from other ions commonly present in natural waters. The potentiometric analysis requires the use of ionic strength adjusting buffer abbreviated as TISAB to obtain accurate and reproducible data.

Comprehensive Assessment of Essential and Potentially Toxic Trace Elements in Bovine Milk and Their Feeds in Different Agro-climatic Zones of Sri Lanka.

Fresh milk is an important source of essential mineral supplement for humans. However, the levels of trace elements in milk are an important component of its safety and quality. Trace elements also act as a bio-indicator of agricultural pollution.

Influences of seawater intrusion and anthropogenic activities on shallow coastal aquifers in Sri Lanka: evidence from hydrogeochemical and stable isotope data.

Water supplies in coastal aquifers throughout the world are often threatened by salinization due to seawater intrusion and anthropogenic activities. In the Kalpitiya Peninsula in Sri Lanka, agricultural and domestic water supplies entirely depend on groundwater resources extracted from unconfined Holocene sandy aquifers. To differentiate the effects of seawater intrusion and agriculture on the coastal aquifers of this 160 km peninsula, 43 groundwater samples were collected.

Bioavailability of selenium (Se) in cattle population in Sri Lanka based on qualitative determination of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities.

Glutathione Peroxidase activity in whole blood is well correlated with the Selenium (Se) levels in cattle hence can be used effectively to assess the supply of Se to farm animals. In this study, Se status of cattle from five different geographic regions of Sri Lanka were assessed based on glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity. The GSH-Px activity was determined in whole blood samples collected from 80 cattle from 31 different farms in five districts viz.

Arsenic-rich shallow groundwater in sandy aquifer systems buffered by rising carbonate waters: A geochemical case study from Mannar Island, Sri Lanka.

Major ion, trace elements, and stable isotope analyses were performed on groundwater samples collected from Mannar Island in the northern Indian Ocean. Arsenic concentrations up to 34μg/L have been observed in groundwater samples from the island. In addition, 23% of extensively used shallow drinking water wells showed higher arsenic contents than the recommended value by the World Health Organization (10μg/L).

Tracing environmental aetiological factors of chronic kidney diseases in the dry zone of Sri Lanka-A hydrogeochemical and isotope approach.

Chronic kidney disease of unknown aetiologies (CKDu) is increasingly recognized in tropical regions and is now considered a global health problem. A detailed hydrogeochemical investigation has been performed in three CKDu hotspots in Sri Lanka to assess the geo-environmental aetiological factors influencing this disease. A total of 71 ground- and 26 surface water samples were collected from Girandurukotte, Wilgamuwa and Nikawewa regions and analysed for major constituents and trace elements.

Environmental exposures of trace elements assessed using keratinized matrices from patients with chronic kidney diseases of uncertain etiology (CKDu) in Sri Lanka.

An alarming increase in chronic kidney disease with unknown etiology (CKDu) has recently been reported in several provinces in Sri Lanka and chronic exposures to toxic trace elements were blamed for the etiology of this disease. Keratinized matrices such as hair and nails were investigated to determine the possible link between CKDu and toxic element exposures. Elements Li, B, Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Sr, Mo, Cd, Ba, Hg and Pb of hair and nails of patients and age that matched healthy controls were determined with Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS).

Trace elements in native and improved paddy rice from different climatic regions of Sri Lanka: implications for public health.

Background: Samples of 226 new improved and 21 indigenous rice ( L.) varieties were collected from the rice fields in three climatic zones of Sri Lanka and concentrations of 18 trace elements (Li, B, Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Sr, Mo, Cd, Ba, Pb and Bi) were measured giving particular emphasis on Se, Cd and As using ICP-MS. The two way multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) method was employed to identify the differences in composition among rice from different climatic zones.

Controls of evaporative irrigation return flows in comparison to seawater intrusion in coastal karstic aquifers in northern Sri Lanka: Evidence from solutes and stable isotopes.

Groundwater in Miocene karstic aquifers in the Jaffna Peninsula of Sri Lanka is an important resource since no other fresh water sources are available in the region. The subsurface is characterized by highly productive limestone aquifers that are used for drinking and agriculture purposes. A comprehensive hydrogeochemical study was carried out to reveal the processes affecting the groundwater quality in this region.

Has irrigated water from Mahaweli River contributed to the kidney disease of uncertain etiology in the dry zone of Sri Lanka?

The Mahaweli is the largest river basin in Sri Lanka that provides water to the dry zone region through multipurpose irrigation schemes . Selenium, arsenic, cadmium, and other bioimportant trace elements in surface waters of the upper Mahaweli River were measured using ICP-MS. Trace element levels were then compared with water from two other rivers (Maha Oya, Kalu Ganga) and from six dry zone irrigation reservoirs.