The Rising Threat of Chronic Kidney Disease is Fueled by Climate Change

Climate change is known to unleash wildfires, heatwaves, and rising seas, but there’s an underreported consequence that’s causing concern in the medical community – Chronic Kidney Disease of Non-traditional origin (CKDnt). This disease is now becoming the “black lung” of climate change. July was officially declared the world’s hottest month, a scorching 1.5°C (2.7°F) above pre-industrial averages. This isn’t just a matter of comfort. For outdoor laborers working in high-heat conditions, the consequences are fatal.

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First spotted among sugarcane workers in El Salvador, CKDnt has claimed at least 20,000 lives in Central America and tens of thousands more globally. As the planet gets hotter, the cases are rising, especially in the tropical and equatorial regions. What is CKDnt? It’s a deadly progressive loss of kidney function linked to high heat, humidity, and hard labor. Think of rice farmers in Thailand, brickmakers in India, and even farmworkers in the United States.

Epidemiologist Jason Glaser calls it the world’s first occupational disease caused by climate change. The sad part? It can be prevented with workplace safety standards. But things are slow to change. The Biden Administration has directed the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Association to create federal heat safety standards, but these will take years to implement.

Doctor Farhad Modarai, focused on kidney care, highlights that extreme weather and air Pollution are increasing risks. Dehydration and fatigue in laborers can lead to urinary tract infections or kidney stones, which over time cause cumulative damage. The wildfire smoke adds to the threat, carrying particles that can reach the kidneys and cause long-term harm. According to Glaser, about 8-10% of workers with acute kidney injury will develop CKDnt within a year. It’s five times more likely within five years. The disease is not limited to other countries; it’s here in the U.S., affecting our workers. Without a robust public health database, the creation of treatment protocols and compensation plans is nearly impossible. But ignoring CKDnt isn’t an option.

Climate change’s heat is a global crisis, affecting our planet in seen and unseen ways. The rise of CKDnt is a grim reminder that the impacts are broader and more personal than we might think. As Glaser says, it’s time to prevent this deadly condition from becoming the next unnoticed epidemic, especially when the workers affected are earning so little. It’s a wake-up call to all to take action against Climate change and protect those most vulnerable.

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