Presence of nephrotoxic pesticides above limit linked to new onset CKD, reveals study

A new study published in the Indian Journal of Nephrology showed that the hotspot communities' prevalence of nephrotoxic pesticides above MRLs suggests a potential link between these chemicals and the beginning and development of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the exposed population.

Chronic kidney disease is linked to substantial comorbidities, mortality, and medical expenses. There have been new reports of chronic kidney disease with undetermined origin (CKDu) in impoverished populations in India, Sri Lanka, and Mesoamerica. At first, it was thought that CKDu was an occupational disease brought on by exposures to substances found in agricultural settings, including NSAID usage, pesticide spraying, heat stress and dehydration, heavy metals, and agrochemicals. In both home and agricultural contexts, organophosphate and the pyrethroid class of insecticides are the most often employed pesticides. Numerous epidemiological investigations have been undertaken to investigate how persistent pesticide exposure leads to renal function decline in humans.

The district of Bargarh in Odisha is well-known for its intensive agricultural activity due to the Hirakud reservoir's continuous irrigation. With the area is seeing a sharp rise in the number of instances of chronic renal disease, this study evaluates the prevalence of CKD and CKDu (of unclear etiology) in the district and their relationship to pesticide use.

With the assistance of primary and community health centers, a door-to-door survey was carried out to identify the CKD hotspots in the various blocks of the district. In addition to gathering information on age, sex, employment, and drinking water source, a random clustered sample approach was used to determine the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the designated hotspot villages. To determine if nephrotoxic pesticide residues were present, soil and water samples were taken from communities that were classified as hotspots and non-hotspots.

A total of 16 villages were classified as hotspot villages due to their high rates of CKD prevalence. According to the data, almost 21% of males in the age group under 40 were determined to have chronic kidney disease. The prevalence of CKDu cases (85%) was higher in these hotspot communities. Analysis of soil and water samples indicated the presence of 7 distinct nephrotoxic pesticides beyond the maximum residues levels (MRLs) in hotspot villages in comparison with non-hotspot villages. Overall, this study clearly states a relationship between CKD and over the limit use of pesticide. 

Source:

Biswas, P., Sahu, A. K., Nath, S. R., Mir, S. A., Naik, P. K., Kariali, E., Nayak, B., Shristi, S., Nayak, S. K., & Baitharu, I. (2024). Prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease and its Association with Pesticide Exposure in Bargarh District, Odisha, India. In Indian Journal of Nephrology (Vol. 34, pp. 467–474). Scientific Scholar. https://doi.org/10.25259/ijn_188_23