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Climate Trends at a Hotspot of Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Causes in Nicaragua, 1973–2014

Author

Listed:
  • Zoe E. Petropoulos

    (Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Oriana Ramirez-Rubio

    (ISGlobal, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
    Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Madeleine K. Scammell

    (Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA)

  • Rebecca L. Laws

    (Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA)

  • Damaris Lopez-Pilarte

    (Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA)

  • Juan José Amador

    (Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA)

  • Joan Ballester

    (ISGlobal, 08003 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Cristina O’Callaghan-Gordo

    (ISGlobal, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
    Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08002 Barcelona, Spain
    Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, 08018 Barcelona, Spain
    CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain)

  • Daniel R. Brooks

    (Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA)

Abstract

An ongoing epidemic of chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology (CKDu) afflicts large parts of Central America and is hypothesized to be linked to heat stress at work. Mortality rates from CKDu appear to have increased dramatically since the 1970s. To explore this relationship, we assessed trends in maximum and minimum temperatures during harvest months between 1973 and 2014 as well as in the number of days during the harvest season for which the maximum temperature surpassed 35 °C. Data were collected at a weather station at a Nicaraguan sugar company where large numbers of workers have been affected by CKDu. Monthly averages of the daily maximum temperatures between 1996 and 2014 were also compared to concurrent weather data from eight Automated Surface Observing System Network weather stations across Nicaragua. Our objectives were to assess changes in temperature across harvest seasons, estimate the number of days that workers were at risk of heat-related illness and compare daily maximum temperatures across various sites in Nicaragua. The monthly average daily maximum temperature during the harvest season increased by 0.7 °C per decade between 1973 and 1990. The number of days per harvest season with a maximum temperature over 35 °C increased by approximately five days per year between 1974 and 1990, from 32 days to 114 days. Between 1991 and 2013, the number of harvest days with a maximum temperature over 35 °C decreased by two days per year, and the monthly average daily maximum temperature decreased by 0.3 °C per decade. Comparisons with weather stations across Nicaragua demonstrate that this company is located in one of the consistently hottest regions of the country.

Suggested Citation

  • Zoe E. Petropoulos & Oriana Ramirez-Rubio & Madeleine K. Scammell & Rebecca L. Laws & Damaris Lopez-Pilarte & Juan José Amador & Joan Ballester & Cristina O’Callaghan-Gordo & Daniel R. Brooks, 2021. "Climate Trends at a Hotspot of Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Causes in Nicaragua, 1973–2014," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-13, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:10:p:5418-:d:557548
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wesseling, C. & Crowe, J. & Hogstedt, C. & Jakobsson, K. & Lucas, R. & Wegman, D.H., 2013. "The epidemic of chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology in Mesoamerica: A call for interdisciplinary research and action," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(11), pages 1927-1930.
    2. E. M. Fischer & R. Knutti, 2015. "Anthropogenic contribution to global occurrence of heavy-precipitation and high-temperature extremes," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 5(6), pages 560-564, June.
    3. H.G. Hidalgo & E.J. Alfaro & B. Quesada-Montano, 2017. "Observed (1970–1999) climate variability in Central America using a high-resolution meteorological dataset with implication to climate change studies," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 141(1), pages 13-28, March.
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