The number of people suffering from chronic renal failure is increasing in industrialized nations, an annual growth of 5 – 8 % can be observed with a shift to developing countries. It is estimated, that in 2030 about 70% of CKD patients are living in developing countries. Exposure to heavy metals, pesticides and nephrotoxic substances are regarded as possible factors influencing the occurrence of CKD.
Also in the El Salvadorian population CKD is an increasing health problem: in the male population it is the second leading cause of death, in the adult population it is the leading cause of death of people treated in a hospital. Overall it is the fifth leading cuase of death in the adult population. A study conducted in the Bajo Lempa region shows a positive correlation between the prevalence of CKD with work in the agricultural sector and possible exposure to pesticides. This relationship can be also observed in other regions with a high number of CKD patients, like Nicaragua and Sri Lanka. In contrast to the most people suffering from CKD, in El Salvador traditional causes for the occurrence of CKD, like diabetis mellitus, hypertension etc. can be excluded as causes for this pandemic. Therefore the term CKD of untraditional causes is introduced (CKDuc).
The mentioned regions have in common, that one of the main economic factors is the cultivation and the export of agricultural goods with an intensive agriculture. In intensive agriculture large parts of the available area are used for cropping as well as categoriced by a heavy use of pesticides and fertilizers.
Especially in developing countries some of the used pesticides are highly toxic to humans and their use is highly questionnable. The use of these highly toxic pesticides is often not allowed in industrialized countries, whereby in developing countries the legislation is not strong enough or the prohibition not adequatly controlled or the prohibition not wanted.
Our research goal is inter alia to find possible exposure mitigation strategies in the field of pesticides in a research and implementation environment called Living Lab.
Also in the El Salvadorian population CKD is an increasing health problem: in the male population it is the second leading cause of death, in the adult population it is the leading cause of death of people treated in a hospital. Overall it is the fifth leading cuase of death in the adult population. A study conducted in the Bajo Lempa region shows a positive correlation between the prevalence of CKD with work in the agricultural sector and possible exposure to pesticides. This relationship can be also observed in other regions with a high number of CKD patients, like Nicaragua and Sri Lanka. In contrast to the most people suffering from CKD, in El Salvador traditional causes for the occurrence of CKD, like diabetis mellitus, hypertension etc. can be excluded as causes for this pandemic. Therefore the term CKD of untraditional causes is introduced (CKDuc).
The mentioned regions have in common, that one of the main economic factors is the cultivation and the export of agricultural goods with an intensive agriculture. In intensive agriculture large parts of the available area are used for cropping as well as categoriced by a heavy use of pesticides and fertilizers.
Especially in developing countries some of the used pesticides are highly toxic to humans and their use is highly questionnable. The use of these highly toxic pesticides is often not allowed in industrialized countries, whereby in developing countries the legislation is not strong enough or the prohibition not adequatly controlled or the prohibition not wanted.
Our research goal is inter alia to find possible exposure mitigation strategies in the field of pesticides in a research and implementation environment called Living Lab.