The role of environmental variables and disease the search for Chemical and Physical Causes for CKD in El Salvador
Dina Lopez
Presentation: 29.10.2013, 10:00 am [Video]
Discussion: 29.10.2013, 10:15 am [Discussion]
Chronic kidney disease of non-traditional causes is epidemic in Central America, Southern Mexico and other regions of the world. In Sri Lanka, the origin of the illness is attributed to exposure to agrochemicals and arsenic in soils and groundwater. In Central America, several causes have been suggested for this illness including: high ambient temperatures and chronic dehydration, and toxic effects of agrochemicals. In our research on the occurrence of this disease in El Salvador we have investigagted the nation statistics on the number of sick patients, the ambient temperature, and the cultivation of the land. Step-wise multivariate regression was used. It was found statistically significant correlation between the spatial distribution of the number of sick people per thousand inhabitants and the percent area cultivated with sugar cane, cotton, and beans, and maximum ambient temperature, with sugar cane cultivation as the most significant factor. Ambient temperature is also important but it has only a secondary effect. These results suggest that possible chemicals added to cultivated lands can be related to this disease. For that reason pesticides, arsenic, and heavy metal content of the different environmental phases have been investigated in a second part of the study. The Bajo Lempa region (Ciudad Romero, Usulutan, El Salvador) has been investigated. This is a region heavily affected by this illness. Results of these studies are presented in other presentations in this meeting.