High CKD Prevalence in Sri Lanka Linked to Agricultural Chemicals.

Scientists from the World Health Organization identified the uncontrolled use of pesticides and fertilizers as the cause of CKD affecting an estimated 450,000 individuals in Sri Lanka. Researchers noted abnormal levels of pesticide residues in samples from 31.6% of patients with CKD who were examined. The tests revealed the presence of high amounts of arsenic, lead, and cadmium. Asreported by SciDevNet, the cause of the high prevalence of the disease has been a mystery until now because of the absence of hypertension, diabetes, and/or kidney damage in the Sri Lankan patients with CKD.