SLMAResearch Symposium on CKDu PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS ON PRESENCE OF ARSENIC IN SOILS AND PLANTS FROM TWO CKDu PREVALENT AREAS IN SRI LANKA Amarasinghe MD1, Fonseka SI1, Jayalath K1, Senanayake VK1, Paranagama PA1, Jayasumana MACS2 1Faculth of Science, University of Kelaniya; 2Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Rajarata University. mala@kln.ac.lk Introduction: In recent years a significant increase in patients of Chronic Kidney Disease of unknown aetiology (CKDu) has been observed in some parts of Sri Lanka, especially in North central province. Arsenic is well recognized as an element of public concern due to its high toxicity and carcinogenic properties. The present study was carried out in relation to the hypothesis that presence of arsenic in the groundwater aquifers in CKDu prevalent areas is the potential cause of the disease. Objective: To determining arsenic content in soil profiles and selected aquatic and terrestrial plants in Padaviya and Polpithigama/ Nikawewa areas with a view to understanding the vertical and horizontal (spatial) distribution of arsenic in the environment. Study design, setting and methods: Soil samples were taken in triplicate at 1 foot depths down to 12 feet from paddy fields, homesteads and draw‐down areas of Padaviya reservoir using a spiral auger. Samples of plant parts from common plants in the study areas were tested for presence of arsenic using the atomic absorption spectrometer after acid digestion. Results: All surface soil samples contained total arsenic contents greater than those in the bottom horizons of the soil profiles. Surface layers of soil in paddy fields of Padaviya area were detected to have relatively high levels of arsenic (1.5 mg kg‐1) when compared to that of the deep layers (0.61 mg kg‐1). No arsenic was detected below 7 feet depth in Padaviya reservoir. Bark of Azadirachta indica (Kohomba) (> 100 µg L‐1) was found to accumulate the greatest amount of total As while it was observed that roots and leaves of Terminalia arjuna (115±2.4 µg L‐1 in bark, > 100 µg L‐1 in roots) too accumulate As more than the other tree species. Eichhornia crassipes (553.5± 2.4 µg L‐1), the aquatic floating plant and flowers of Nelumbo sp.(rooted aquatic plant) (1101± 10.2 µg L‐1) were found to contain excessive amounts of arsenic. Conclusion: The results of the present study revealed that presence of arsenic in the soils and plants, particularly in the agricultural areas gradually decreases with depth, indicating that it is not present naturally in the bedrocks nevertheless has been introduced from the surface, most probably due to anthropogenic activities such as agrochemicals.
EFFECT OF CONCENTRATED WATER FROM RESERVOIRS OF HIGH PREVALENCE AREA FOR CKD OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN IN SRI LANKA ON MICE Jayasekera JMKB1, Dissananyake DM1, Ratnayake P2, Wickramasinghe W3, Radella YA4, Palugaswewa WB5 1Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya; 2Srimavo Bandaranayake Specialized Children Hospital, Peradeniya; 3National Environmental Toxicology Laboratories, University of Queensland, Queensland; 4Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Peradeniya; 5Department of Irrigation, Anuradhapura. dhammika62@gmail.com Introduction: Epidemiology of CKDu shows distribution of patients around the some water reservoirs and most of them are farmers. Low prevalence of the disease among villagers who use water from natural springs was observed. Based on the hypothesis that water is the carrier of the CKD‐U causing agent, the potential effects of concentrated water of one of these reservoirs in the high prevalence area on the kidneys was studied by mouse bioassay. Method& material: Water of Padaviya reservoir supplying water to a high prevalent area was concentrated fifteen times by evaporation, exposing to sunlight. The test group of mice (20) and control group (15) were fed with concentrated water and Kandy water respectively for 6 months and sacrificed to examine the histology of kidneys. Water samples were analyzed for Fluoride, Na + and K+ using ISE method, heavy metals using ICP/MS and for cyanobacterial toxins microcystin & cylindrospermopsin using LC/PDA and LC/MS/MS respectively. Results: At the end of 6 months interstitial nephritis was detected in 45% test mice and 6.5% controls (p< 0.001). Concentrated water samples showed high concentrations of fluoride, Na+, K+ but not heavy metals. The cyanobacterial toxin analysis showed low levels (0.05 ug/L ) of deoxy‐cylindrospermopsin. The analysis of concentrated water samples showed significantly high content of fluoride (2.25 mg/L), Sodium (225 mg/L) (p<0.05) than control samples. However, no increased levels of heavy metals were
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