General Condition of Drinking Water in Nepal

Kyu-Jae Lee,Ma Easter Joy Sajo1,Yang-Suk Yoon,Eun-Ha Kim,Dong-Heui Kim,Dong-Won Ahn 한국물학회 2013 한국물학회 학술대회 Vol.2013 No.03

In the context of Nepal, the issue of easy access to safe drinking water has always been a hot debate mainly because though the country is generally recognized as one of the richest country on the basis of consisting high water density, the proportion of people suffering from water borne diseases is significantly massive. According to the census report of Central Bureau of Statistics 2011, nearly 85percents of households in the country have access to improved drinking water. However these statistics necessarily does not determine and ensure that the stated proportion of households have easy and sufficient access to safe drinking water mainly because most often it is seen that most of the water supplies contain high bacterial contamination and found hardly chlorinated to adequate levels. Whereas the existing major sources and supply systems of drinking water in Nepal are concerned, people heavily depend on inadequate, unhygienic and poor water quality sources like rivers, tube- wells and spouts. Besides that, Poor storage system, practice of open defecation around water sources, traditional operative system, improper drainage system and negligence from concerned stakeholders for the proper maintenance of water supply system are also viewed as most common reasons for the unavailability of sufficient safe drinking water in Nepal. Prominently if we focus on the condition of safe drinking water of Far Western Region of Nepal, it has always been considerably below the national coverage. In the Mountain areas, the water is generally considered to be safe however the contamination of Iron in water is found frequently. In the hill sides lime contaminated water is most commonly available which has further led for the emergence of water and skin borne diseases. In this area the access to safe water is primarily based on gravity system but the availability of limited water sources, insufficient allocation of budget and improper distribution have played vital role for the lack of access to safe to water. Since the hill and mountain districts of this region suffer from the lack of easy access to drinking water, they have to labor hard by walking long distance for the storage of water for which they have to spend healthy amount of time and simultaneously it is not sure that whether that water is safe or not. Access to water is better in Terai region in comparison to the rest because of the availability of underground water sources through tube and dug wells. However, though the sources and access are easier, the worst effect aroused by the lack of access to safe drinking water in this region is more pathetic where a lot of citizens are badly affected by the arsenic contaminated water. Most importantly, the high proportion of patients visiting hospitals for the checkup due to the consistent and acute outbreaks of intestinal parasitic diseases seems emerging from the use of arsenic contaminated water in Terai region which has underscored the prevalence of unsafe water. Even in city areas of the country. Water supply systems are typically occasional, having supply only for relatively few hours per day. Since the facility of water supply through piped system is limited, many people are compelled to depend on the traditional and unprotected sources like ponds in hill region and open dug- wells in Terai region. Since Terai is located in plain areas, people have to rely on diverse types of water sources and mechanisms like streams, tube and dug- wells, underground water systems, small rivers and other sources as well which are undoubtedly do not confirm the reliability and quality of the water. In contrast to Mountain and hill districts of Far West, sources of water in Tikapur Municipality are much more heavily based on underground water but have no easy access to surface water system, though only few who are rich does have. In addition to it, unavailability of drainage system, lack of land for the construction of tube wells due to dense settlements in urban areas and absence of felt need are also other highly functioning factors for the scarcity of safe drinking water. Additionally unsafe water storage habits of people living in this Municipality have created water quality problems. Due to the lack of access to safe water, water borne diseases like cholera, skin diseases and even typhoid are also common in the municipality. In some of the rural and drought affected areas of the Municipality, people use unprotected dug- wells and surface water as the source of drinking water without any scientific treatment.

The Bathing Effect of Hydrogen Reduced Water on UVB Skin-Mediated Injury in Hairless Mice

Ma Easter Joy Sajo,Rosa Mistica Ignacio,Yang-Suk Yoon,Cheol-Su Kim,Dong-Heui Kim,Soo-Ki Kim,Kyu-Jae Lee 한국물학회 2013 한국물학회 학술대회 Vol.2013 No.03

Exposure to UVB radiation induced skin damage that results to increase risk of skin cancer. Despite the clinical importance of skin-induced damage, antioxidants imposed limited therapeutic success. Hydrogen molecule (H2) has been known as a safe antioxidant in the prevention and therapeutic approach towards several diseases. Drinking hydrogen reduced water, inhalation of hydrogen gas, and injecting H2-dissolved saline are widely accepted to incorporate H2 in the body. However, there is no document about the beneficial effect of taking a hydrogen bath. Here, we investigated the effect of hydrogen bathing on the UVBinduced skin damage in hairless mice. For this, mice of the bathing group are allowed to freely swim on HRW, and let the HRW penetrate for 60 mins. Scoring of skin injury, ROS enzyme activity quantification, cytokine analysis, and ultrastructural change of corneocytes were measured after exposure to an UVB radiation of 360-540 mJ/cm2. In summary, the bathing with HRW significantly reduces the levels of skin damaged, as well as increased activity of glutathione peroxidase. Further, the effect of HRW on cytokine network in the skin after UVB exposure revealed that HRW significantly decreased the level of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6,TNF-α and IFN-y. Finally, scanning electron microscopy data revealed low number of defected corneocytes and ultrastructural changes, suggesting that HRW bathing protected against UV-induced cell damage.

Possible Application of Portable Ultraviolet-C Light as Water Disinfectant in Developing Countries

Ma. Easter Joy Sajo,Johny Bajgai,Ailyn Fadriquela,Kyu-Jae Lee 한국물학회 2015 한국물학회지 Vol.4 No.1

Ultraviolet-C light produces ultraviolet energy that can destroy wide range of microorganisms, without the use of chemicals. Here, we investigated the anti-bacterial effects of portable UV-C light on river water samples. Water samples were obtained from a river in Wonju City, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea. The water samples were then transferred in a water bottle to be tested in the laboratory. The UV-C lamp tube was submerged in a water bottle, where it was then exposed to different doses of UV-C light: 0 sec, 20 sec, 40 sec, 1 min, 2 min, and 3 min. Microbial tests were done by spread plating using Blood Plate Agar (BPA) and pour plating using Nutrient Agar (NA). Our results showed a high antibacterial effect against bacteria in river water cultured in BPA and NA. The percent reductions of bacteria in BPA were 99.75% in 20 seconds while 100.00% in 40 sec, 1 min, 2 min, and 3 min. On the other hand, the percent bacterial reduction in NA were 85.71%, 83.71%, 90.48%, 99.75%, and 100.0% in 20 sec, 40 sec, 1 min, 2 min, and 3 min. This study confirmed the antibacterial efficacy of UV-C light by the percent bacterial reduction cultured in BPA was totally cleared in 40 seconds while NA was cleared in 3 min. This study could be applied in as water disinfectant in developing countries where access to safe drinking water is inadequate.

Simple Method of Increasing the Alkalinity and Reduction Power of Water by Boiling

Ma. Easter Joy Sajo,Ailyn Fadriquela,Johny Bajgai,Tae-Young Kang,Kyu-Jae Lee 한국물학회 2016 한국물학회지 Vol.5 No.1

Alkaline-reduced water (ARW) was first developed in Japan, and its effectiveness has been explored in different health related fields. Generally, ARW is generated by electrolysis, whereby water (H2O) decomposes into oxygen (O2) and hydrogen gas (H2) due to an electric current. ARW also can be generated with additives, such as calcium or magnesium. ARW is characterized as having high pH, supersaturated hydrogen, and negative oxidation -reduction potential (ORP). Hydrogen-rich water has been introduced as a feasible therapeutic strategy for health promotion and disease prevention. Studies have shown that ARW has antioxidant properties and thus helping counteract free radicals in the body. These free radicals can cause premature aging and other conditions. The chemical properties of ARW, specifically its pH, are believed to contribute to its beneficial effects. Here, we hypothesized that the simple method of boiling water could increase the alkalinity and reduction power of water. The impact of simply boiling water, which is not only to increase its alkalinity and reducing the ORP, but also allows it to reduce the reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in the body, raises the long-term possibility that drinking boiled water might prevent oxidative stress-related diseases.

Clinical application of disinfectant water and alkaline reduced water in Tikapur hospital, Nepal

Ma Easter Joy Sajo,Yang-Suk Yoon,Kyu-Jae Lee,Dong-Won Ahn,Narendra Kumar Khanal 한국물학회 2013 한국물학회 학술대회 Vol.2013 No.03

Electrolyzed disinfectant water and alkaline reduced water have been utilized in different clinical treatment and application in different countries such as Japan, Korea, America and China. Electrolyzed disinfectant water is known for its strong antimicrobial effect and has been used as an effective disinfectant for medical supplies, hand washing, and for treatment of wounds, burns, diabetic foot, and other skin diseases. We aimed to improve health services in Tikapur including health services at Tikapur Hospital. We have clinically applied Electrolyzed Acidic Water in treatment for burn, diabetic foot, and wounds dressing in patients in Tikapur Hospital from August 2012 up to present. Wound and Burn dressing for patients using electrolyzed disinfectant water gave promising treatment effect, also, with the other patients treated with electrolyzed acidic water. Another application is the use of Alkaline Reduced Water (ARW) for patients with digestive disorders and stone diseases. Patients with kidney stones were administered with ARW with around 2L per day. Recently, improvements have believed to be found with patients in Tikapur hospital. The application of electrolyzed disinfectant water and alkaline reduced water suggests a progress and development in Tikapur hospital and also for improvement of health services to the community as well.

Antioxidant Effect of Natural Fullerene (Shungite) in H2O2-Induced Oxidative Stress in vitro

Ma. Easter Joy Sajo,Cheol-Su Kim,Kim Soo-Ki,Kyu-Jae Lee 한국물학회 2016 한국물학회지 Vol.5 No.1

As fullerene-based compound application rapidly increased in health industry, the need of toxicological and biological effects is in demand. Here, we investigate the potential antioxidant properties of mineral-rich shungite and less mineral shungite in olive oil, fullerene-containing compound, against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in HaCaT cells. The composition of the less mineral shFig. 5. Inflammatory cytokines mediate H2O2-Induced Oxidative Stress. The concentration of (A) TNF-α, (B) IL-1β, (C) IL-10 cytokine was determined using ELISA after pure fullerene, mineral-rich shungite, and mineral-less shungite treatment.ungite is 94.79% atomic carbon analyzed by EDX X-ray spectrophotometer. Cell viability was significantly decreased by the exposure of mineral-rich shungite, mineral-less shungite, and pure fullerene C60 (25, 50, 100, and 200 μg/mL) for 24 hrs in the cultured HaCaT cells. Mineral-rich and less-mineral shungite compared to pure fullerene did not induce toxicity in vitro, therefore natural mineral shungite is safer to use for further investigation of its antioxidant property. Intracellular reduced glutathione (GSH) and catalase level were also decreased compared to the level of the non-treated control group during the exposure period, while the level of super oxide dismutase (SOD) did not have significant change. Intracellular cytokine levels of IL-10, IL-1β and TNF-α were increased suggesting an induced inflammatory response by shungite. This study suggests that natural mineral shungite could be a novel antioxidant and could provide a new insight for oxidative and inflammatory related disease treatment.

Clinical Application of Alkaline Reduced Water on stone disease at Tikapur hospital, Kailali District, Nepal

Niranjan Chaudhary,Ma. Easter Joy Sajo,Kyu Jae Lee 한국물학회 2014 한국물학회 학술대회 Vol.2014 No.11

The effect of reduced water on Nc/Nga atopic dermatitis mice

Yang-SukYoon,Ma Easter Joy Sajo,Dong-hee Kim,Cheol-so Kim,Soo-ki Kim,Kyu-Jae Lee 한국물학회 2013 한국물학회 학술대회 Vol.2013 No.03

Atopic dermatitis(AD) is chronic pruritic inflammatory skin disease. Patients with severe or persistent AD and their families suffer from significant impairment in their quality of life. AD places a heavy economic burden not only on patients and their families, but also on society in general. AD ha s been related inflammation and oxidative stress. immunological abnormalities is causing more severe AD lesion. HRW(Hydrogen reduced water) have antioxidant properties, and can exert anti-inflammatory effects. The purpose of this study was to determine the drinking effect of the HRW with the properties of high pH and low ORP in mice induced AD skin lesions. Mice were sensitized using 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene(DNCB) to cause AD-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice, and taken Hydrogen reduced water(HRW group) or purified water(PW group). We found that Interlukin(IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-12(p70), Granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), Interferon-gamma (INF-r), and Tumor necrosis factor –alpha (TNF-a) werw less in the HRW group compared to the PW group. These results suggest that regular drinking HRW with the properties of high pH and low ORP has a positive effect on AD skin lesions.

Unsafe Drinking Water in Tikapur, Nepal

Megh Raj Bhattarai,Ma Easter Joy Sajo,Yang-Suk Yoon,Dong-Heui Kim,Dong-Won Ahn,Kyu-Jae Lee 한국물학회 2013 한국물학회 학술대회 Vol.2013 No.03

This specific dissertation thoroughly examines and analyses the existing condition of safe drinking water, prevailing problems and most possible solutions to improve its quality in Tikapur Municipality of Nepal. First of all, it is found that relatively very few proportion of population residing particularly in the core urban area of the Municipality have access to gravity water supply system whereas almost 90 percents of total population depend on the underground water sources like tube- wells. Since the existing major sources of drinking water in this Municipality are based on unscientific, traditional and unprotected supply systems, the inhabitants are compelled to use inadequate, unhygienic and poor water quality, which is found hardly chlorinated and purified to adequate levels. Although the sources and access to water is quite high in this Municipality in comparison to the average condition of the Nepal, prevalence of bacterial contamination and unsafe drinking water seems as one of the major challenges in most of the rural and drought affected areas of the Municipality. Apart from it, due to the dense settlements and lack of adequate land, it is most often seen that the distance of tube wells and safety tank of toilets is narrow consisting high risk of contamination of human excreta. Most importantly, it is really surprising that even medical stores do not keep water guard and other water treatment options except in summer season. Prominently, lack of felt need and habit cultivation for the use of safe drinking water among people living in this Municipality have contributed largely for the emergence of rampant water quality problem and its subsequent result of water borne and other diseases like Diarrhoea, cholera and jaundice. On the one hand it is estimated that the capacity of water storage tank based on surface water supply system is limited only for 1500 households out of more than 11000, on the other hand its traditional operative system and practice of irregular and ineffective cleanliness of tank and its sources have raised another major problem for maintaining its safety. In rainy seasons due to the unavailability of scientific sewerage and drainage system, the tube- wells are covered with contaminated and dirty water mainly in the urban areas of the Municipality. In addition to it, poor storage system, practice of open defecation near to water sources, allocation of insufficient budget for providing scientific water supply system, lack of public awareness and lack of ownership among concerned stakeholders for the promotion and management of safe drinking water are also appearing as the major problems. First and foremost, what seems inevitable is the simultaneous use of both hardware and software approaches to promote and provide easy and sustainable access for safe drinking water. Activities to arouse felt need to generate the sense of ownership and promotion of the Proper practice of POU water treatment options could be some effective tools for the sustainable development of safe drinking water. Similarly, as the habit of open defecation near to water sources has been rampant in the Tikapur Municipality area, it is undoubtedly crucial to eliminate Open defecation practice by promoting safe disposal practice of human excreta through Public awareness campaign. In the similar fashion development and expansion of scientific and modern water supply system, proper management of scientific sewerage and drainage system is also equally important. Last but not the least, the methods for the mobilization of community, strengthening and capacity development of stakeholders, development and implementation local level participatory action plan are seem important and even effective for maintaining and providing safe drinking water.

Effects of Microwave-Heated Water Using Functional Ceramic Vessel on Soybean Germination Rate

Ailyn Fadriquela,Ma. Easter Joy Sajo,Johny Bajgai,Kyu-Jae Lee 한국물학회 2015 한국물학회지 Vol.4 No.1