Page 49 - RUFARS 2021 - Proceedings

ISSN: 2659-2029
Proceedings of the 4 Research Symposium of the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences
th
University of Ruhuna, Galle, Sri Lanka
August 26, 2021

OP 14

Assessment of Health Risk using the Daily Intake of Nephrotoxic Trace
Metals via Drinking Water: A Case Study in Rideemaliyadda-South, CKDu
Endemic Area, Sri Lanka

2
2
1#
2
Karunadasa H.T.D.R. , Botheju W.S.M. , Dayananda M.D.N.R. , Perera W.P.R.T. ,
Liyanage J.A.
2
1 College of Chemical Sciences, Institute of Chemistry Ceylon, Sri Lanka
2 Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka

# Corresponding author: dilu.ruwangika@gmail.com

Background: Chronic kidney disease of uncertain aetiology (CKDu) has been reported in Sri
Lanka for more than two decades. Although it has been a significant health burden, this is not
associated with any known factors of CKD such as hypertension, diabetes, and illegal drug
abuse.

Objectives: To assess the health risk of the intake of potential nephrotoxic elements via
drinking water using the chronic daily intake (CDI) of selected metals in Rideemaliyadda-
South, a CKDu endemic area, Sri Lanka.

Methods: Drinking water samples (n=30) were collected from Rideemaliyadda-South GN
division, Badulla district, Sri Lanka. Cd, Pb, Cr and Cu concentrations of the water samples
were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICPMS-Agilent-7800).
All the analyses were done in triplicates. Mean CDI, Hazard Quotient (HQ), Hazard Index (HI)
for an adult human (oral) were measured using the concentrations of selected nephrotoxicants.

Results: The mean concentrations obtained for Cd, Pb, Cr and Cu were 0.12±0.02, 0.45±0.07,
0.16±0.00 and 1.95±1.17 μg/L, respectively. All the mean values of selected nephrotoxic
elements complied with the maximum permissible levels recommended by WHO. The mean
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CDI values (µgkg day ) for Cd, Pb, Cr and Cu were 4.4x10 , 1.65x10 , 5.87x10 ,
7.15×10 and the calculated HQ values were ranged as 4.4x10 , 4.71x10 , 1.96x10 ,
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1.79×10 , respectively. The calculated HQ and HI values for all the selected nephrotoxic
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elements were below 1.0 (1.29×10 ) and were within the acceptable level recommended by
WHO.

Conclusions: The nephrotoxic element concentrations, HQ, and HI values were within the
recommended values, indicating no potential harmful health risks to the residents in the study
area. However, long-term use of water may pose a hazard to human health. Therefore, it is
recommended to regularly monitor the water quality for contaminations before using for
drinking purposes.

Keywords: CKDu, Hazard index, Hazard quotient, Nephrotoxic, Oral daily intake

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