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Author: Hiran Wijesinghe, F. Sumaiya Idroos and Pathmalal M Manage
Journal: Sri Lanka Journal of Aquatic Sciences

Heavy metal contamination in aquatic ecosystems has become an emerging environmental issue. The stable physicochemical properties of heavy metals could result in bioconcentration and bioaccumulation in different organs of freshwater fishes. The present study records the accumulation of Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu) and Zinc (Zn) in the head, muscle and skin regions of seven fish species namely, Labeo rohita, Oreochromis mossambicus, Oreochromis niloticus, Etroplus suratensis, Heteropneustes fossilis, Oligolepsis acutipennis and Puntius dorsalis collected from Minnerya, Parakrama Samudraya and Kaudulla reservoirs in Polonnaruwa district, Sri Lanka.

Author: G.Y. Liyanage, Pathmalal Manage
Journal: International Journal of Medical, Pharmacy and Drug Research (IJMPD)

Most antibiotics are metabolized incompletely by patients after administration and enter the municipal sewage with the patients’ excretion. Therefore, studies on the biodegradability of some clinically important drugs can be taken as a very first step of an environmental risk assessment. The present study reports the biodegradation of CIP by Lactobacillus gesseri, Enterobacter sp., Bacillus sp., Bacillus subtilius and Micrococcus luteus which were isolated as CIP resistance, non pathogenic bacteria.

Author: Pathmalal Manage
Journal: Sri Lanka Journal of Aquatic Sciences.

Antibiotics have been extensively and effectively used in aquaculture due to accelerated growth of aquaculture and this has resulted in the development of serious health problems in aquaculture, other animals, and human. The use of a wide variety of antibiotics in large amounts, including non-biodegradable antibiotics, ensures that they remain in the aquatic environment for a long time. This has resulted; the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the environments, an increase of antibiotic resistance in fish pathogens, transfer of these resistance determinants to bacteria and then land animals and finally become human pathogens along with alterations of the bacterial flora both in sediments and in the water column. Thus, the global efforts are needed to promote more judicious use of prophylactic antibiotics in aquaculture as accumulating evidence indicates that unrestricted use is detrimental to fish, terrestrial animals and human health.

Authors: Tharindu Madhusanka and Pathmalal Manage
Journal: Asian Journal of Microbiology, Biotechnology & Environmental Sciences.

There is a growing concern on the use of alternative sustainable energy source to overcome the energy crisis. Hence, biodiesel from cyanobacteria has drawn the attention of the scientific community. The present study was carried out to find potential utilization of Microcystis bloom for biodiesel production. Microcystis bloom samples were collected from Beira Lake, Sri Lanka and Soxhlet extraction method with Isopropanol: n-hexane (3:2) solvent system was employed to extract lipids. In the present study,biodiesel B6 blend was prepared and the properties of B6 blend were compared with ASTM D 7467(American Society for Testing and Materials standard for B6 – B20 Biodiesel blends)and Ceylon Petroleum Corporation specifications for no: 02-grade auto diesel to confirm the fuel properties and the usability respectively. Biodiesel B6 blend was subjected to determination of fuel properties and density at 15oC (ASTM D 1298/ 4052), Viscosity Kinematic at 60oC (ASTM D 445), Calorific value (Gross) (ASTM D240), Cloud point (ASTMD 2500), Lubricity (HFRR wear sear dia at 60oC) (ASTM D 6079), Sulphur content (ASTM D 4294) and CFPP (Cold Filter Plugging Point) value (ASTM D 6371) were 831.00kg/m3, 2.83cSt., 11180.00kcal/kg, 6oc,405.00μm, 2310.00ppm and 4oC. The results revealed that biodiesel B6 blend complied with ASTM standards for lubricity, kinematic viscosity and sulfur content (S5000). The fuel properties of kinematic viscosity, density, sulfur content and CFPP value complied with the Ceypetco auto diesel specifications and the energy content of the blend was higher than Ceypetco auto diesel specifications. The results of the present study revealed that the Microcystis bloom can be utilized as a potential candidate to produce biodiesel.