Risk assessment of physico-chemical contaminants in groundwater of Pettavaithalai area, Tiruchirappalli, Tamilnadu - India.

A study was carried out in Pettavaithalai area to evaluate the current status of physico-chemical contaminants and their sources in groundwater. Groundwater samples collected from pettavaithalai area in 15 different stations were analyzed every alternative months over a period of two years from August 2000 to June 2002. A sugar mill is situated at the heart of the study area. Three profiles (profile A, B and C) were selected based on the direction in which the sugar mill effluent flows. In each profile five samples were collected from five different station at a regular distance of about 1 Km. The physico-chemical parameters such as pH, EC TDS, TH, NO3, SO4, PO4, Na, K, Ca, Mg, DO, BOD and COD have been analyzed. The results showed that among the three profiles, many of the estimated physico-chemical parameters of profile C were very high when compared to profile B and A which indicates the poor quality of the groundwater around this area.

Clinical use of NISR 440 polycarbonate membrane for hemodialysis.

1. In order to accredit the NISR440 Polycarbonate Membrane for clinical studies, the following was accomplished and/or established: a. Casting and synthesis were increased from the laboratory level to production scale. b. Quality control of permeabilities and physical properties was within +/- 5%, from membrane lot to lot and within the same roll. c. The target properties of the Artificial Kidney Program (NIH) were reached(7): 1) Middle M. W. solute permeability of marked molecules was established by 3 different laboratories and averaged: Vitamin B12 - 296 x Cuprophan¿; Inulin 3.6 x Cuprophan¿; Bacitracin 2.94 x Cuprophan¿. 2) Low M. W. species permeabilities were approximately the same as Cuprophan¿, to avoid a depletion syndrome. 3) Hydraulic permeability was essentially the same as Cuprophan¿ (UF rate 1.25 to 2.0 x Cuprophan¿) to avoid dehydration and hypotension. 4) Burst strength was 1.5 to 2.0 x Cuprophan¿. d. Toxicology studies were all negative in spot and in serial lot testing. e. Non-thrombogenicity tests (Lindholm test) were up to 36.6% better than Cuprophan¿. f. No protein adsorption was found. g. The membrane could be produced in the wet and dry state with the same permeability and physical properties. 2. In an earlier clinical study at USC, it was established that: a. There were no toxic effects manifested in patients in 25 episodic studies. b. Clearances forlow M. W. solutes and hydraulic permeabilities were, as targeted, approximately the same as Cuprophan¿. c. In 4 1/2 mos of a double blind study of 6 patients, no significant toxic effects were noted for either the patients on Cuprophan¿ or NISR 440 Polycarbonate Membrane. Two patients had an increase of hematocrit. 3. The ability to heat seal the membrane in the periphery and in channels through many layers, combined with its relative rigidity when wet, make possible clinical hemodialyzer designs approximately the size of a package of cigarettes and inexpensive to produce.