Chronic kidney diseases of uncertain etiology (CKDue) in Sri Lanka: geographic distribution and environmental implications

The increase in the number of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients from the north central region of Sri Lanka has become a environmental health issue of national concern. Unlike in other countries where long-standing diabetes and hypertension are the leading causes of renal diseases, the majority of CKD patients from this part of Sri Lanka do not show any identifiable cause. As the disease is restricted to a remarkably specific geographical terrain, particularly in the north central dry zone of the country, multidisciplinary in-depth research studies are required to identify possible etiologies and risk factors. During this study, population screening in the prevalent region and outside the region, analysis of geoenvironmental and biochemical samples were carried out. Population screening that was carried out using a multistage sampling technique indicated that the point prevalence of CKD with uncertain etiology is about 2–3% among those above 18 years of age. Drinking water collected from high-prevalent and non-endemic regions was analyzed for their trace and ultratrace element contents, including the nephrotoxic heavy metals Cd and U using ICP-MS. The results indicate that the affected regions contain moderate to high levels of fluoride. The Cd contents in drinking water, rice from affected regions and urine from symptomatic and non-symptomatic patients were much lower indicating that Cd is not a contributing factor for CKD with uncertain etiology in Sri Lanka. Although no single geochemical parameter could be clearly and directly related to the CKD etiology on the basis of the elements determined during this study, it is very likely that the unique hydrogeochemistry of the drinking water is closely associated with the incidence of the disease.     

斯里兰卡的清洁生产

本文介绍了斯里兰卡一些关心清洁生产的机构和项目.这些机构之一,中小企业开发商(SMED)成立于1989年,负责在产业和服务部门发展管理和技术能力.自1997年以来,它已经在引导了遍及斯里兰卡的研讨会和车间,促进清洁生产及有关思想,它也支持其它有关清洁生产的项目.SMED已经被选定为在2002年行动计划的斯里兰卡国家清洁生产中心的最合适的主办机构.企业发展、工业政策和投资促进部是SMED的政府对应部门.     

斯里兰卡的清洁生产

本文介绍了斯里兰卡一些关心清洁生产的机构和项目.这些机构之一,中小企业开发商(SMED)成立于1989年,负责在产业和服务部门发展管理和技术能力.自1997年以来,它已经在引导了遍及斯里兰卡的研讨会和车间,促进清洁生产及有关思想,它也支持其它有关清洁生产的项目.SMED已经被选定为在2002年行动计划的斯里兰卡国家清洁生产中心的最合适的主办机构.企业发展、工业政策和投资促进部是SMED的政府对应部门.     

Youth in the face of vocational agricultural training for sustainable development: whether to push forward or pull back

Vocational training as an inter-temporal investment will bring returns in the future as people responsible take the necessary initiatives to invest today. However, training must be dynamic in nature, especially for agro-entrepreneurship to create structural changes in production, distribution, marketing and consumption. In the preparation of youth to meet future requirements of economic growth, biotechnology, nanotechnology and intelligence in computer technology play prominent roles in the context of knowledge and skill development of the population. In this process, youth should be well informed of conditions and situations of demographics, socio-economics, scientific, energetic and pragmatic aspects of potentials in development through effective vocational training processes in the sphere of sustainable development. By so doing, it would be easy to visualize new production vistas with a new generation of agro-entrepreneurs to yield dynamic production systems for a new world.     

A novel living agricultural concept in urban communities: Family Business Garden

During the process of urbanization, people are subject to the indiscriminate use of resources due to competition. The present trend in global population growth predicts that the situation will be aggravated as many people prefer living in towns and cities to resource-poor rural areas. In consequence, limited space, high percentage of ageing population, urban poverty, environmental pollution, changes in urban lifestyles and varied consumption patterns have to be dealt with in sustainable development strategies. In this context, urban agriculture can play a vital role by visualizing the urban homestead as a potentially viable production unit of agriculture. In order to live with limited urban infrastructure facilities, environmental conditions and socio-economic situations, the concept of the Family Business Garden justifies the necessity of its presence through the experience in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. Having a proper mix of environmental and commercial agricultural concerns, the concept paves the way not only to address family food requirements but also to produce for markets under liberalized economies by promoting agro-entrepreneurship and social capital development attempts in urban communities.