A Pilot Study to Assess Inhalation Exposures among Sugarcane Workers in Guatemala: Implications for Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Origin

Joshua W. Schaeffer, John L. Adgate, Stephen J. Reynolds, Jaime Butler-Dawson, Lyndsay Krisher, Miranda Dally, Richard J. Johnson, Katherine A. James, Diana Jaramillo and Lee S. Newman
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Joshua W. Schaeffer: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
John L. Adgate: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
Stephen J. Reynolds: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
Jaime Butler-Dawson: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
Lyndsay Krisher: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
Miranda Dally: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
Richard J. Johnson: Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
Katherine A. James: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
Diana Jaramillo: Center for Health, Work and Environment, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
Lee S. Newman: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 16, 1-15

Abstract: Background: Sugarcane workers in Central America experience a heavy burden of chronic kidney disease of unknown origin. We conducted a pilot study among worker proxies in Guatemala to characterize exposures to particulate matter, silica, heavy metals, and glyphosate, as well as to examine potential nephrotoxic exposures. Methods: Air, soil, and ash samples were collected and analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The average mass concentration for particulate matter (PM) 2.5 and PM 100 exposures were 360 µg/m 3 (range: 32 to 1500 µg/m 3 ) and 555 µg/m 3 (range: 229 to 1170 µg/m 3 ), respectively. The elemental composition of particles was largely silicon. The amount of crystalline silica was below 5 μg, yet the percentage of total silica was ~17% by weight. Putatively, the silica was in the amorphous form. Concentrations of aluminum and calcium ranged from 2–7 μg/m 3 . Glyphosate was not detectable in analyzed air samples but was detectable at concentrations ranging from 81–165 ppb in soil samples. Conclusion: Sugarcane workers are exposed to high concentrations of particulate matter. Future studies should investigate the potential role of silica, heavy metals, and agrochemicals in the etiology of chronic kidney disease in this population.

Keywords: particulate matter; exposures; kidney; CKDu; sugarcane workers; silica (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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