title: Simultaneous exposure to multiple heavy metals and glyphosate may contribute to Sri Lankan agricultural nephropathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sri Lankan Agricultural Nephropathy (SAN), a new form of chronic kidney disease among paddy farmers was first reported in 1994. It has now become the most debilitating public health issue in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. Previous studies showed SAN is a tubulo-interstitial type nephropathy and exposure to arsenic and cadmium may play a role in pathogenesis of the disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Urine samples of patients with SAN (N = 10) from Padavi-Sripura, a disease endemic area, and from two sets of controls, one from healthy participants (N = 10) from the same endemic area and the other from a non-endemic area (N = 10; Colombo district) were analyzed for 19 heavy metals and for the presence of the pesticide- glyphosate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both cases and the controls who live in the endemic region, median concentrations of urinary Sb, As, Cd, Co, Pb, Mn, Ni, Ti and V exceed the reference range. With the exception of Mo in patients and Al, Cu, Mo, Se, Ti and Zn in endemic controls, creatinine adjusted values of urinary heavy metals and glyphosate were significantly higher when compared to non-endemic controls. Creatinine unadjusted values were significant higher for 14 of the 20 chemicals studied in endemic controls and 7 in patients, compared to non-endemic controls. The highest urinary glyphosate concentration was recorded in SAN patients (range 61.0-195.1 μg/g creatinine).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  People in disease endemic area exposed to multiple heavy metals and glyphosate. Results are supportive of toxicological origin of SAN that is confined to specific geographical areas. Although we could not localize a single nephrotoxin as the culprit for SAN, multiple heavy metals and glyphosates may play a role in the pathogenesis. Heavy metals excessively present in the urine samples of patients with SAN are capable of causing damage to kidneys. Synergistic effects of multiple heavy metals and agrochemicals may be nephrotoxic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine & Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Saliyapura, 50008, Sri Lanka. jayasumanalk@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Channa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jayasumana
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Science, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, 90840, USA. sarathg@csulb.edu.
authors.forename: Sarath
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gunatilake
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Saliyapura, 50008, Sri Lanka. sisira.siribaddana@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sisira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Siribaddana
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000652:urine*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D005998:Glycine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000652:urine; D006540:Herbicides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000652:urine*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009395:Nephritis, Interstitial / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000652:urine*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000652:urine*; D013188:Sri Lanka / Q000453:epidemiology; D000097797:Glyphosate
chemical_list: D005998:Glycine; D006540:Herbicides; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D000097797:Glyphosate