Botany
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Item The Groundwater Geochemistry and the Human Health Risk Assessment of Drinking Water in an Area with a High Prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology (CKDu), Sri Lanka(Journal of Chemistry, 2021) Botheju, W. S. M.; Liyanage, J. A.; Kannangara, S. D. P.; Corchado, J.Chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) has become an alarming health issue in Sri Lanka. ,e disease is more notable among farming communities and people who consume groundwater as their main source of drinking water. To assess the possible links between drinking water chemistry and expansion of CKDu, the study was compared with hydrogeochemical data of drinking water sources in a CKDu prevalent area (Girandurukotte GND, Badulla District) and a reference area (Dambethalawa GND, Ampara District) in Sri Lanka. Based on the results, nephrotoxic heavy metal (Cd, Cr, Pb, and As) concentrations were significantly higher in the CKDu prevalent site than the reference area, compromised the harmful consequences to the people in the CKDu hotspot. Results of the inverse distance weighted (IDW) interpolation tool indicated the nephrotoxic heavy metals contents including Cd, Pb, As, and Cr in CKDu hotspot were changed in the ranges of 9.78–187.25 μg/L, 0.08–0.66 μg/L, 20.76–103.30 μg/L, and 0.03–0.34 μg/L. ,e random distribution patterns were shown by the result in Moran’s index values. Noteworthy, the results have emphasized a strong association between fluoride and water hardness. ,e frequency of occurrence above the threshold limit of fluoride was 28% in non-CKDu water samples, while 81% in CKDu prevalent sites. ,e hardness values in the CKDu prevalent site indicated “moderately hard water,” while the non-CKDu area indicated the “soft water.” Furthermore, this paper quantified overall water quality and heavy metal contamination and assessed the human health risks associated with drinking water. According to the results of the water quality index, 90% of the samples in the CKDu prevalent area were classified as “poor water” and “very poor water” for drinking purposes, while 73.33% of the samples in the non-CKDu area were “good” and “excellent” for drinking usage. Calculated chronic daily intake (CDIoral) and hazard quotient (HQoral) of nephrotoxicants were higher in CKDu hotspot than the non-CKDu site. Besides, the hazard index (HI) values obtained for the CKDu prevalent area exceeding the acceptable limit (HI � 1) indicated potential health risks to the people in those areas. ,is study suggests that long-term exposure to nephrotoxic heavy metals, water hardness, and fluoride present in drinking water may threaten human health and affect kidney functions. ,erefore, regular monitoring and better management of water supplies in CKDu prevalent areas are essential to determine the contamination load and reduce the health impacts due to excessive and longterm exposure to the nephrotoxicants.Item THE OTTER AS AN UMBRELLA SPECIES IN CHINA(International Otter Survival Fund, 2021) DE SILVA, K.H.W.L.The aim of this survey was to assess the current presence of otter along the River Dee, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, through a series of spot-checks for field signs indicating otter activity along the riverbanks carried out from its upper reaches at the White Bridge in the Forest of Mar down to the coast at Greg Ness (approximately 125km). Spraint sites were the most abundant field signs observed along the course of the River Dee, with a total of 208 spraint sites found, the majority of which consisted of fresh or recent spraints (n = 162; 77.9%). The fresh or recently deposited spraints were found throughout upper, mid and lower regions of the River Dee surveyed. Both in situ and laboratory-based spraint analysis was performed to give an index of the diet of otters utilising the River Dee. The Salmonids (Salmon and Trout species) were the dominant prey item observed in the spraints along the River Dee but mammal remains were the dominant prey item found in spraints on the tributaries of the River Dee. Eel (Anguilla anguilla) remains were more prevalent than salmonids from spraints on the tributaries. Mammal remains were the most frequent non-fish items found in all spraints observed in this survey. Other non-fish items included bird, amphibian and crab remains.Item The spray of essential oils with passive modified atmosphere packaging to control stem-end rot of mango 'Karutha Golomban'(lnternational Society for Horticultural Science, lll Asian Horticuttural Gongress 'AHC2020, 2020) Kodituwakku, T. D.; Abeywickrama, K.,; Karunanayake, K. O. L. C.'Karutha Cotomban' mango is more prone to stem-end rot (SER) disease that causes substantial postharvest losses in quality as well as quantity. The objective of this study was to use aqueous emulsions of basil (1.6 pL/mL), clove (2.0 pL/mL), cinnamon leaf (2.0 pL/mL) and cinnamon bark (1.6 pL/mL) oils as sprays with passive modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) in low density polyethylene (LDPE) bags qs_ a bio-s_afe strategy to control SER of 'Karutha Colomban' mango stored at 12 - 14 "C and 85 - g0% of retative humidity. Distilled water and 0.1% (w/v) carbendazim treatments were used as negative and positive controls respectively. ln-package respiratory gases were measured during storage for B days. Pathological, physicochemical, sensory evaluation and feel color of mango were assessed after transferring to ripening at the end of the storage period. All essential oil treatments combined with passive MAP have significantly reduced SER severity of mango to 0.3 ' 1.1% when compared to the negative controlwithout adversely affecting the physicochemical, sensory properties anl peel color. Mango fruits treated with basil, clove and cinnamon leaf oils obtained a slighily higher preference by the sensory panelthan other treatments. ln-package 02 concentration was at 3.8 - 5.8%, while CO2 was at 4.3 - 5.0% at the end of the B-day storage period. Respiratory gas levels attained a steady state equilibrium which resulied'in extending the shelf life by reducing the metabolism of both commodity and associated microorganisrns. Further, current treatments can be commercialized as eco-friendly treatment strategies to be used during transportation and storage of mango in local trade within one week and for exportation via air cargo that takes approximately 2 - 3 daYs.Item Carbon Source dependent - anaerobic Soil Disinfestation (ASD) Mitigates the Sclerotial Germination of Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum(Tropical Plant Pathology (2020), 2020) Mahalingam, T.; Rajapakse, C.S.K.; Somachandra, K.P.; Attanayake, R.N.Though Sclerotinia sclerotiorum IS a well-studied plant pathogen that causes significant economic damage worldwide, sustain able and environmental friendly control methods are difficult to establish due to it wide host range, cosmopolitan distribution and production of recalcitrant structures that can survive in soil for a long time. The pathogen was found causing a severe disease incidence on cabbage in 2016 in Sri Lanka. It was hypothesized that a) isolates of the recent disease outbreak display cross resistance to commonly applied fungicides and b) carbon (C) source supplemented Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation (ASD) is effective in mitigating the germination of sclerotia. In vitro fungicide sensitivity assays showed large variation in mycelial growth inhibition indicating high adaptability of the population towards environmental fluctuations and management practices. Signatures of cross resistance were evident. ASD was carried out using cabbage (Brassica oleracea) and leek (Allium ampeloprasum) cull piles, durian (Durio zibethinus) peels and grass cuttings (Axonopus compressus) as C sources and determined the sclerotial viability. Cabbage and leek cull piles at rates of 60—100 mg/g soil completely inhibited sclerotial germination. Maintaining anaerobic condition along with C source amendments was found to be a critical step in mitigating the sclerotial germination. GC-MS analysis of the volatiles of cabbage leaves, leeks and durian further confirmed the presence of various bioactive compounds with potential antifungal activity. Therefore, in addition to elevated microbial activity in treatments, the volatiles of C sources may have helped mitigating sclerotial germination.