RESUMO
Water quality of four open wells representing four localities around the Kerala Minerals and Metals Ltd industrial area, Chavara, Quilon district was studied for a period of six months from December, 2006 to May 2007 to assess the suitability of the well waters for domestic purposes. The well waters exhibited high BOD (average values from 12.87-15.96 mg l-1), COD (666.67 - 796.67 mg l-1), TDS (500-1466.67 mg l-1), total hardness (110-835 mg l-1), nitrate (1.12 -4.97 mg l -1), calcium (30.59-271.22 mg l-1), phosphate (0.19 -0.48 mg l-1) and free CO2 (49.13 - 102.47 mg l-1) and low dissolved oxygen (2.63 - 3.13 mg l-1). Heavy metal analysis revealed that the third and fourth wells are free from heavy metal pollution. Coliform test showed bacterial contamination in all the wells. The values of BOD, COD, TDS and phosphate exceeded the maximum permissible limits and the dissolved oxygen was much lower than the desirable limit in all the well waters. Hence all the four well waters are found unsuitable for domestic purposes as it is confirmed by water quality index. The use of waters of open wells in and around the industrial area may cause health hazards to nearby inhabitants.
RESUMO
Facio Auricular Vertebral (FAV) or Goldenhar syndrome is a very rare kind of syndromic deafness and is inherited as autosomal dominant. A study was taken up to understand the prevalence of this syndrome in children below the age of 14 years with hearing loss. Out of 1073 children with hearing impairment, Goldenhar syndrome was observed only in 1 (0.09%) case. The child suffered severe hearing loss. Facial paralysis and hemifacial microsomia were prominent features observed in the child. Facio-Auricular-Vertebral syndrome is therefore synonymously used with Goldenhar syndrome.