Assessment of well water quality in Tsunami affected regions of south-west coast of Kerala, India.

The quality of well waters, based on 23 parameters of water, at 12 stations of south-west coast of Kerala, India, was assessed during monsoon, 2009 and summer, 2010, to determine their suitability for drinking and other domestic purposes. The stations selected were grouped into four regions viz. least, slightly, moderately and severely affected ones based on the severity of 2004 Asian Tsunami at each station. The depths of wells showed variations depending on the seasons and on their distance from the seacoast. The average water temperatures during monsoon and summer seasons were 28.5oC and 30.2oC respectively. The pH of well waters were below 6.5 in least and slightly affected regions and above this value in moderately and severely affected regions. In all the four regions, the well water parameters of electrical conductivity, hardness, fluoride, free chlorine, copper, zinc, calcium and nickel were below, and phosphorus, lead, iron cadmium and manganese were above the standard permissible levels set for them in drinking water. The values of salinity, sodium and potassium in the well waters of moderately and severely affected regions, and the values of nitrate-nitrogen, nitrate and magnesium in the well waters of severely affected regions were above the permissible limits set for them in drinking water. Water quality index calculated on the basis of drinking water standards revealed that the well waters of least and slightly affected regions were moderately polluted in both monsoon and summer seasons and the same of moderately affected region were excessively polluted during monsoon and severely polluted during summer seasons, whereas the well waters of severely affected regions were severely polluted in both seasons. Suitable recommendations were made to improve the quality of well waters of least and slightly affected regions.

Is environmental degradation the root cause for communicable diseases in kerala? A case study.

In Kerala (India), environmental degradation, consequent to urbanization, industrialization and skewed agricultural practices, is on the rise. The urban area has acute land and water pollution due to these activities. In Thiruvananthapuram district, especially in certain pockets of squalor and poor environmental quality, communicable diseases are being reported frequently. The present study aims to highlight the causes of environmental degradation which are directly related to the health issues of Thiruvananthapuram district. Based on this study some recommendations are also made for enhancing the environmental quality of the region.

Conversion efficiency and nutrient digestibility of certain seaweed diets by laboratory reared Labeo rohita (Hamilton).

Impact of three different types of seaweed diets on growth, feed utilization and nutrient digestibility of L. rohita was studied for 120 days. The seaweed diet fed fishes, especially Ulva based diet showed comparatively higher growth and weight increment. Good food conversion ratio, food assimilation efficiency, protein efficiency ratio and better nutrient digestibility were recorded for seaweed diet fed fishes. The results suggests the suitability of utilizing seaweeds, Ulva fasciata, Spyridia insignis and Sargassum wightii as partial substitute for fishmeal in formulated diets of L. rohita.