SYDNEY (Dispatches) -- According to researchers from the University of Queensland, a commonly available pesticide has been associated with an increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Nearly one in 10 people in high income countries show signs of CKD, which is permanent kidney damage and loss of renal function, researchers report.
They studied links between pesticide exposure and the risk of kidney dysfunction in 41,847 people, using data from the U.S.A. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and found people exposed to higher amounts of the insecticide Malathion, known as Maldison in Australia, had 25 per cent higher risk of kidney dysfunction.
The findings suggest we should limit our exposure to pesticides, even in very small doses, as chronic exposure may lead to negative health outcomes.