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

Sandun Sandanayake; Saranga Diyabalanage; E A N V Edirisinghe; Huaming Guo; Meththika Vithanage

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121596

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

Environ Pollut. 2023 Jul 1:328:121596. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121596. Epub 2023 Apr 8.

Authors

Sandun Sandanayake¹, Saranga Diyabalanage², E A N V Edirisinghe³, Huaming Guo⁴, Meththika Vithanage⁵

Affiliations

¹ Ecosphere Resilience Research Centre, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka.
² Ecosphere Resilience Research Centre, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka; Instrument Centre, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka.
³ Isotope Hydrology Section, Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board (SLAEB), Wellampitiya, Sri Lanka.
⁴ Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Environmental Evolution & School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, China.
⁵ Ecosphere Resilience Research Centre, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka. Electronic address: meththika@sjp.ac.lk.

PMID: 37037276
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121596

Abstract

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 (δ²H and δ¹⁸O). 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. The measured average groundwater F^- level was higher than the permissible level assigned by regulatory agencies for tropical countries at CKDu locations in GK, DH and non-CKDu locations in DH and SW. Significant differences in the content of total hardness (p = 0.017) and total dissolved solids (p = 0.003) were observed between CKDu and non-CKDu locations whereas the differences were insignificant for F^- (p = 0.985) and alkalinity (p = 0.203). Weathering of silicate and carbonate minerals was found to be the main governing factor of groundwater compositions in both CKDu and non-CKDu areas, while recharging of groundwater is mainly determined by the rainfall than the surface water inputs. Higher ionic strength of groundwater in non-CKDu areas suggested that the potential environmental CKDu risk factors might be suppressed from dissolution into groundwater. The WQI calculations revealed that the both CKDu and non-CKDu locations were frequently presented with poor water quality. This study highlights the water quality status of the CKDu and non-CKDu locations and signifies the potential health risks that could arise even in non-CKDu areas due to the consumption of poor quality water. Accordingly, regular monitoring of water quality and assessment of Hofmeister ions exposure from food and beverages are highly warranted.

Keywords: Chronic kidney disease; Geochemistry; Groundwater; Hofmeister ion; Water quality index; Water-rock interaction.

MeSH terms

Chronic Kidney Diseases of Uncertain Etiology
Drinking Water* / analysis
Groundwater* / chemistry
Humans
Ions / analysis
Sri Lanka / epidemiology
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis
Water Quality

Substances

Ions
Water Pollutants, Chemical
Drinking Water