Chronic Kidney Disease: Cause Hard Water + Heavy Metals + RoundUp

A research article by Jayasumana et al (2014) proposes the cause for Chronic Kidney Disease  of Unknown etiology (CKDu) are chemical complexes formed by Glycphosate (RoundUp) when it combines with  hard water and heavy metals in fertilizer.
I would not rule out dioxins as a another contributory cause to CKDu.


Bullet points from the article.

Prevalence  15% [2] affecting a total population of 400,000 patients with an estimated death toll of around 20,000 

Individuals who drink treated water from large water supply schemes (especially in the twocities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa), while living in the same endemic areas, do not have the disease.

Jaffna and Northern province which has very hard water (Fig 1) has low incidence of CKDu because agro chemicals were prohibited during the war.

Three potential sources of glyphosate/AMPA-metal complexes:

[Glyphosate/AMPA + Ca/Mg/Fe/Sr ] complex in drinking water.

[Glyphosate/AMPA + Cd/Cr/Ni/Co/Pb/Vanadium (V) or As] complex in food.

[Glyphosate/AMPA coming from dermal/ respiratory route] + low amount of [metals/As] from water and foods, here the complex is formed within circulation.

I can well attest to the heavy usage of RoundUp out here in the Wanathavillu/Eluvamkulam area.  RoundUp is used to clear paddy fields, vegetable plots, road side, gardens of weeds.  Its much cheaper than using manual labor.  That said as far as I know there arnt any patients suffering from CKDu.  Probably attributable to drinking water wells are by the side of tanks/wewas like Ralmadu and Nelum Wewa or are diluted by Kala Oya waters.  All other wells the water is absolutely hard and undrinkable.

Update:
Research shows that Roundup (glyphosate) and its principal breakdown product, Aminomethylphosponic acid (AMPA) is taken up and accumulated in GM soy bean.

All of the individual samples of GM-soy contained residues of both glyphosate and AMPA, on average 9.0 mg/kg. This amount is greater than is typical for many vitamins. In contrast, no sample from the conventional or the organic soybeans showed residues of these chemicals .

Full Article
Jayasumana, C.; Gunatilake, S.; Senanayake, P. Glyphosate, Hard Water and Nephrotoxic Metals: Are They the Culprits Behind the Epidemic of Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology in Sri Lanka? Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2014, 11, 2125-2147.

via:
http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2014/03/links-3314.html

Pumping Draws Arsenic Toward a Big-City Aquifer

Arsenic and alternative explanation to Nalin de Silvas unscientific views. 

The Red River and its surrounding aquifer is a source of organic carbon that encourages release of arsenic into groundwater further inland. (Credit: Benjamin Bostick/LDEO)

Now, scientists working in Vietnam have shown that massive pumping of groundwater from a clean aquifer is slowly but surely drawing the poison into the water. The study, done near the capital city of Hanoi, confirms suspicions that booming water usage there and elsewhere could eventually threaten millions more people.

Arsenic is moving." The good news, he said: "It is not moving as fast as we had feared it might." This will buy time -- perhaps decades--for water managers to try and deal with the problem, he said.
Arsenic is found in rocks across the world, but it seems to pollute groundwater only under specific conditions. The huge scale across south Asia came clear only in the 1990s, when researchers from universities, nonprofit agencies and governments started testing wells systematically. Van Geen has been working in the field for 13 years, and is leading a new collaborative effort in the region under the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program.

From
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/09/130911131951.htm

Also see
http://sbarrkum.blogspot.com/2012/09/dioxin-causes-incereases-of-diseases-in.html
http://sbarrkum.blogspot.com/2013/05/jaffna-groundwater-depletion-and.html

Water Wars: Dam Blue Nile in Ethiopia

The Blue Nile which comes from the Ethiopian highlands supplies 50% of the water to the Nile in Egypt.  Construction of the Renaissance Dam in Ethiopia started in 2011, filling of the dam is expected to start in 2015 and completed by 2017.

Now Younis Makhyoun the head of Islamist Al-Nour party in Egypt, suggests the dam should be sabotaged.

“Egypt can coordinate with rebels in Ethiopia and use them as a bargaining chip with the Ethiopian government” Makhyoun said. “If this fails, then there is no choice but to use intelligence to destroy the dam.”

In 2011 the Economist commented

How will Ethiopia pay? Chinese banks are apparently underwriting the cost of turbines and other electrical equipment.

Neither the World Bank nor private investors are willing to put up the cash, since Ethiopia has failed to create partnerships with power companies in neighbouring countries to which it could sell electricity. The Nile's geology may be favourable for dam building, but the flow of money is not.

Background on Ethiopia

Ethiopian History starts around 700 BC and became Christian around 300 A.D.  It has been the only country (Abyssinia at that time) in  Africa that was not colonized by Europeans.  In 1936 Mussolini occupied part of Ethiopia.  The Italians formed the colony of Eritrea and approx 40K Italian colonists were settled in the colony.  Italys occupation ended after World War II.  The Eritrean war of Independence lasted 30 years (1961 – 1991). One of the British proposals was that Eritrea be divided along religious lines with the Christians to Ethiopia and the Muslims to Sudan. 

The Ethiopian Highlands called the Roof of Africa forms the largest continuous area where  little of its surface falls below 1500 m (4,921 ft), while the summits reach heights of up to 4550 m (14,928 ft). Because of the height these mountains catch the precipitation of the monsoon winds of the Indian Ocean, resulting in a rainy season that lasts from June until mid-September. These heavy rains cause the Nile to flood in the summer, a phenomenon that puzzled the ancient Greeks, as the summer is the driest season in the Mediterranean climate that they knew.

Groundwater Depletion, Chronic Kidney Disease (CKDu) and Jaffna River Project

From Hidayathulla and Karunaratna

A recent research article by Thushyanthy Mikunthan and C.S. De Silva highlight the accelerating
depletion of the limestone groundwater aquifer in Jaffna peninsula. There are two serious concerns that need to be addressed because of this.

a) As the authors point out, with thousands of people returning to settle in the former war zone, groundwater extraction is bound to increase, resulting in  shortages of water supply in the Jaffna peninsula for agriculture and domestic use.

b) With pesticides and fertilizer runoff seeping into the groundwater  the main source of drinking water in the Jaffna peninsula, kidney and other health issues are going to become more common.  I think the Chronic Kidney Disease (CKDu) prevalent in Anuradhapura will be be a walk in the park, compared to what is probably in store for the Jaffna dwellers.   CKDu incidence in Jaffna has been low probably because agriculture and use of fertilizer/pesticides were minimal due to lack of access to markets in the South during the civil war.

Background on Chronic Kidney Disease (CKDu).

The majority of CKDu patients are from the Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Kebithigollewa, Girandurukotte, Padaviya, Vilachchiya and Ampara  areas. In the Anuradhapura area CKDu prevalence averages around 12% and affects more women (62%)  than men (32%).  The disease progresses slowly and majority of patients do not have any symptoms until they are in the late stages of the disease

Many causes have being attributed to CKDu excessive cadmium in the natural environment; high levels of fluoride in drinking water; using fluoride-rich water in low quality aluminium pots; “hard water” with higher than normal levels of minerals; and toxins generated by blue-green bacteria in the water and of course Arsenic.  My untested opinion is that dioxins too may be a cause (see Dioxin causes Kidney Disease: Alternative Explanation to Arsenic). If Dioxins are one of the causes of CKDu then not just the individuals exposed, but potentially the great-grandchildren may experience increased adult-onset disease susceptibility.

So what can be done

a) Better testing and monitoring of ground water (and blood).
b) Increased rain water collection and harvesting.
c) Controlled use of Fertilizer, Pesticide

Testing and Monitoring of Ground Water 

Ms. Thushyanthy Mikunthan has publications on water quality.  However, the analysis are for rudimentary components, e.g. chloride, iron and sulphate concentration, total alkalinity, total dissolved solids,  pH and Nitrate.  Let alone dioxins and dioxin-like product, metals or arsenic are not tested.  Most likely this is because the equipment and material needed for sophisticated testing (e.g. HPLC's) are unavailable in Jaffna and/or testing in Colombo is cost prohibitive.

So maybe its time to consider a project to test/monitor groundwater for metals, dioxins and dioxin-like chemicals.  Maybe donation of instruments, or a collaborative research project to link agricultural use, dioxin content in ground water incidence CKDu and effect of alleviation methods such as rain water harvesting.

Increased rain water collection and harvesting

The biggest project for Rainwater collection that has been proposed and partially completed is the Jaffna River project. The basic concept is to create fresh water lakes from the Elephant Pass, Vadamarachchi and Upparu lagoons, by preventing saltwater intrusions.  More details from D. L. O Mendis in the Daily News. 

As  Dr Rajasingham Narendran says
The ‘ River for Jaffna’ project, which is vital for Jaffna is stalled , although considerable work has been recently done. The Elephant Pass lagoon has been isolated from the sea on both sides. I was pleasantly shocked to learn yesterday at a seminar on water resources that this work was completed by the government in 2008, amidst the war. Further, after the war the Thondamanaru and Ariyalai barrages have been reconstructed. However, the construction of the Mulliyan canal to connect Elephant Pass reservoir with the Vadamaracchchi lagoon has not commenced. The bund of the Iranaimadu tank has been raised preventing a natural spill into Kanagarayan Aru and flow into the Elephant Pass reservoir. Mr. Anandasangari is leading the effort against Iranaimadu waters spilling over to fill the Elephant Pass reservoir. It is imperative that the government make the visionary river project for Jaffna of the Late Engr. Arumugam come true. There can be no greater blessing for Jaffna. This project if completed will make Jaffna bloom in every possible way – agriculture, tourism, inland fisheries, industrialisation fresh water availability, good quality ground water availability, greenery etc.,

Resources
http://www.scidev.net/en/south-asia/news/jaffna-aquifer-depleting-from-overuse.html
http://idosi.org/aejaes/jaes7%281%29/15.pdf
http://www.gsslweb.org/home/files/109-113-hidayathulla-final.pdf
http://archive.riversymposium.com/index.php?element=ARUMUGAM

Water Resources Development, Jaffna Peninsula by  K. Shanmugarajah, Fast Books, Australia, 1993

 

The story of Bottled Water

The story of Bottled Water

NY Times: Fidelity Ad: Investment Opportunities in Water

Back to Water as valuable resource of Sri Lanka.

Todays NY Times had a advertisement from Fidelity Investments about investment opportunities in Water. Fidelity Investments is is one of the largest US mutual fund companies with nearly $3.3 trillion in assets under administration and $1.5 trillion of assets under management.

Anyway here is the wording in the ad.

It takes 35 gallons of water to make one cup of coffee. Why? Because of all the water used to cultivate coffee beans. Similarly, it can take about 635 gallons to make one hamburger because of all the water required to grow feed for the cows.

The need for clean fresh water is increasing rapidly, too, as populations rise and standards of living improve around the world. In some places -- such as central California, the North China Plains, and parts of India -- the demand for water is already outstripping the local supply.

Because global water consumption is expected to increase by 40% over the next 20 years, water shortages may get more acute and widespread, spurring more reliance on desalination technologies, water reuse, and conservation. The results could have massive economic, ecological, and geopolitical consequences, creating investing opportunities in places you may never have considered.

This advertisement should be read in context of the following posts.

• Privatization of Water
• Dabur Lanka to export 3.36 million litres of Water
• Climate Change, Food Security & Virtual Water an Asymmetric Threat to Sri Lanka

Privatization of Water

This is in a sense a follow up to the

Dabur Lanka to export 3.36 million litres of Lankan water to India every month
and the
Climate Change, Food Security & Virtual Water an Asymmetric Threat to Sri Lanka

posts.

This post contains excerpts from a article in Truth-Out titled Public Utility, Private Profit: Privatization of Water Is as Benign as Lucifer

Beginning about 20 years ago, it dawned on the bankers and some major corporations that if oil was a lucrative commodity water would be even more so. Everyone had to have water, even if they rode bicycles to work or took public transit. The trick was how to take it away from the people and sell it back to them.

The first water privatization story I ever heard was out of Bolivia. Cochabamba, Bolivia, is a semi-desert region. Water is a scarce precious resource. In 1999, the World Bank told Bolivia that in order to obtain a much-needed $600 million in international debt relief, it would have to privatize Cochabamba’s public water system, giving the concession to a Bechtel subsidiary, International Water.
The Bolivian Congress caved in, passing the ‘Drinking Water and Sanitation Law’ in October of 1999, ending government subsidies to municipal utilities and authorizing privatization. International Water took over in Cochabamba. The minimum wage is less than $100 a month, but IW raised the price of water to an average of $20 per household.

One classic example would be in the Plachimada community in the state of Kerala. Coke opened a bottling plant there in 2000; the community immediately suffered from chronic drought and polluted water. The reasons are hardly in dispute.
Three years ago, the little patch of land in the green, picturesque rolling hills of Palakkad yielded 50 sacks of rice and 1,500 coconuts a year. It provided work for dozens of labourers. Then Coke arrived and built a 4-acre bottling plant nearby. In his last harvest, Shahul Hameed, owner of the small holding, could manage only five sacks of rice and just 200 coconuts. His irrigation wells have run dry because Coke draws up to 1.5 million litres of water daily through its deep wells... To make matters worse, the bottling plant was producing thousands of gallons of toxic sludge and, as the BBC reported, disposed of it by selling the carcinogenic material to local farmers as "fertilizer."

Coca-Cola is big in Mexico, very big. At the same time, and not coincidentally, 12 million people have no access to piped water and 32 million have no access to proper sewage. Coca-Cola’s resource monopoly simultaneously creates a scarce water supply and an abundant supply of Coke. The country is also the second largest consumer of bottled water, much of it sold by guess who. The process of making Coke requires at least two liters of water for each liter of the finished product; some estimates are as high as five-to-one. The business end is covered by dozens of water concessions from the Mexican government which handed the company the legal right to take water from, as of 2008, 19 aquifers and 15 rivers, many of these in indigenous territories. They have also picked up the right to dump toxic waste in at least eight different public water sources.
The process of privatization has nearly swallowed the entirety of the country’s water. Yet the country hasn’t received much in return from Coca-Cola. In 2003, the company paid $29,000 for water concessions in the entire nation; in 2004, their profits from the bottling plant in San Cristobal de las Casas, the largest in the country and second largest in the world, alone reached $40 million.

Please read the whole article at Public Utility, Private Profit: Privatization of Water Is as Benign as Lucifer

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