Importance of Arsenic and pesticides in epidemic chronic kidney disease in Sri Lanka

BMC Nephrol. 2014 Jul 28:15:124. doi: 10.1186/1471-2369-15-124.

Abstract

In a recent study published by the National Project team on chronic kidney diseases of unknown origin in Sri Lanka, we believe there to be flaws in the design, analysis, and conclusions, which should be discussed further. The authors wanted to emphasis Cadmium as the major risk factor for chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology in Sri Lanka while undermining the importance of Arsenic and nephrotoxic pesticides. To arrive at predetermined conclusions the authors appear have changed and misinterpreted their own results. The enormous pressure applied by the agrochemical industry on this issue may be a factor. Herein, we discuss these issues in greater detail.

Publication types

  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Arsenic / adverse effects*
  • Arsenic / blood
  • Congresses as Topic
  • Environmental Exposure / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Pesticides / adverse effects*
  • Pesticides / blood
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / blood
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / chemically induced*
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / epidemiology*
  • Sri Lanka / epidemiology

Substances

  • Pesticides
  • Arsenic