A study by the University of Gothenburg has revealed that occupational exposure to dust and particles may increase the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD).
The research followed over 280,000 Swedish construction workers since the 1970s and found that those exposed to high levels of dust had a 15% higher risk of developing CKD before the age of 65.
This risk, however, did not persist after retirement age.
CKD is a progressive disease characterized by the kidneys’ declining ability to cleanse the body, resulting in the retention of harmful substances and fluids.
Previous studies have linked outdoor air pollution to CKD, and this study extends that link to occupational environments, specifically in the construction industry.
Lead author Karl Kilbo Edlund emphasized the need for further studies to determine causality and the biological mechanisms.
The study was published in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine and is part of a broader project funded by the Swedish Research Council Forte.
Despite reductions in workplace emissions and increased use of protective equipment since the 1970s, researchers argue that more improvements are necessary to protect construction workers.
The next step involves confirming these findings in other groups and further investigating the mechanisms involved.
If you care about kidney health, please read studies about how to protect your kidneys from diabetes, and drinking coffee could help reduce risk of kidney injury.
For more information about kidney health, please see recent studies about foods that may prevent recurrence of kidney stones, and eating nuts linked to lower risk of chronic kidney disease and death.
The study is published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
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