Beware! Global warming may accelerate chronic kidney disease

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: This comes as a warning sign for people across the globe as researchers have said that climate change can possibly elevate the risk of chronic kidney ailment all around the world. As per new findings, heat stress and rising temperature can harm kidneys, especially in rural communities of hot regions.

With rise in temperature worldwide, dehydration and heat stress are likely to take a toll on the kidneys, emerging as a major cause of poor kidney health in the near future.

"A new type of kidney disease, occurring throughout the world in hot areas, is linked with temperature and climate and may be one of the first epidemics due to global warming," said Richard Johnson, from the University of Colorado in the US.

Also, global warming and a rise in extreme heat waves have increased the risk of kidney disease, especially for the agricultural workers, who are exposed to the heat for longer duration.

Decreasing amounts of rain contribute to the growing epidemic of the chronic kidney disease consistent with heat stress -- by reducing water supplies and quality as temperatures rise, the researchers noted.

(With Agency inputs)