Water, health, and kidney disease in Sri Lanka: perspectives from anthropology and chemistry (360G-Wellcome-208193_Z_17_Z)

The proposed project combines theories and methods from the anthropology of science, environment, and health and water chemistry, with the overall aim of contributing towards academic and policy research on health and environmental crises produced by water pollution in the developing world. As a case study, project will explore the epidemic of Chronic Kidney Disease unknown etiology (CKDu) in Sri Lanka. It will focus on how scientific, medical and policy narratives of the disease have come to center on water, accompanied with a study of ethno-chemical understanding versus chemical quality of water. It will further investigates different forms that water take when approached by scientific and medical community and a community severely affected by CKDu. Specific objectives of the research would be, Explore the cultural and historical conditions surrounding water in relation with CKDu epidemic. Map the emergence of a lexicon around water Compare criteria used by scientists and ordinary villagers to judge water quality Develop maps of water quality as identified through scientific and ethno-chemical knowledge Understand how people’s lives in a CKDu-affected village with a particular reference to water Contribute towards scientific, advocacy and policy debates regarding CKDu and environment/water pollution