RDI has been conducting tests of surface and well water in Cambodia since 1998.  In 2003, the laboratory expanded to accommodate an ever growing need to monitor water quality.  At present the RDI laboratory is the #1 arsenic tester in the country of Cambodia.  Over 10,500 wells have been tested.  In addition to vital work with arsenic testing, the RDI labs also conduct various microbiological tests and is expanding its work to viruses.

RDI Labs Overall Mission

RDI labs wishes to share research for the overall betterment of Cambodia.  We have three distinct goals:

  1. To provide clean water and a safe environment for all of Cambodia

  2. To train up and capacity build young Cambodian scientists.

  3. Provide an environment for outside partners to gather important research for Cambodia's future.

A Few Words About Arsenic Testing and Research:
Chronic exposure to arsenic at low levels has a pronounced impact on human health.  It has been linked to a wide range of health effects including:

•cancer of the skin and internal organs
•increased incidence of respiratory disease
•mental slowness
•hearing loss in children
•lowered birth weights in babies,
•impaired skin sensation and more... 

Children are the greatest risk group in regards to arsenic related health problems. 

For more information regarding arsenic and arsenic research in Cambodia, click here.


More information about our arsenic research can be found by clicking the icon below.

In addition to arsenic research and data collection, the RDI laboratory is also involved heavily in:

River and Wetlands Research
We currently are Using 6 strategically located hydrolabs to take key water parameters to measure ph, dissolved oxygen, temperature turbidity, and total dissolved solids (among other data points).  This info is collected by the systems every 15 minutes 24/7.This data is collected along the Mekong, Tonle Sap and Basasc rivers in order to better understand he annual cycle of the rivers and the environmental impact dam construction, waste, and sediment deposits have on the local ecosystem.

Sewer Research
E. coli and various other bacteriological testing is taking place along the wetlands nearest major waste deposit areas from Cambodian cities. By measuring levels of detergents, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids and turbidity, etc., we can begin to measure how effectively the wetlands are treating raw sewage.  We are also studying the impact this sewage has on the people who live on and around the wetlands.

Rainfall and Weather Pattern Research
With a partnership with SUNY at Buffalo, a rain gauge network have been installed to measure rainfall.  Additional weather related data collection devices are constantly gathering data in order to get more accurate weather information.  Our weather data is available to anyone who wants it.  E-mail mickey@rdic.org for info on how to download this data.

Drinking Water Quality Indexes
RDI has already begun to collect data in order to create an indexed value of all the drinking water throughout the country.  30 or so key water quality aspects (of well and surface water) are measured and placed on a scale.  The GPS locations are plotted on a map and the data is offset with population info and the overall accessibility of water. RDI uses this data in hopes to gauge the actual need and urgency of each village in regards to clean drinking water.

Solar Disinfection
Ryan Sinclair from Tulane University is researching Solar Disinfection in the RDI resource lab for his doctoral dissertation study.  More information regarding SODIS can be found here: SODIS Page

  


Whenever possible RDI partners young Cambodians with US based research teams in order to inspire a new generation of Cambodian scientists.


 

Who works in our lab? 
Our RDI country director, Mickey Sampson, has a Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry and directs studies in the lab.  Khmer students from various Universities in Cambodia and graduate students from the U.S.A. and abroad also conduct field tests on a regular basis.  Remote tests and sample gathering are all coordinated through the RDI laboratory.  Recently, a general water testing co-operation with Buffalo State University in New York has been established.


 

Needs

  1. Teams of volunteers to  gather and plot basic arsenic data at various sites around the country.

  2. Donations: laboratory equipment, consumables, reagents, and lab instruments.

  3. More partnerships! (We have a lot of information and research data to share with new researchers and universities entering the country.)
 

Presence Absence Tests 

Presence Absence coliform tests have been developed by RDI in conjunction with the World Health Organization.

Following is a development report, and a sample presence absence test guide.

• General Report
• How to presence absence test (11 meg file)