Environmental Pollution is Increasing the Incidence of Chronic Renal Failure

Abstract

The environment comprises innumerable risk factors in untold combinations. These risk factors could be physical (radiation, heat, electric or altitude), chemical (for example heavy metals and hydrocarbons) or biological (bacterial, parasitic, viral or fungal) in nature, which can reach the human through air, food, water, drugs or cosmetics. These risk factors could be present at home, in the workplace, or in the environment at large.

Airborne environmental toxins could be gaseous (for example carbon monoxide, vinyl chloride, radon), vapour (for example lead, mercury, arsenic, nickel), dusts (asbestos, silica, cotton fibres, coal), airborn allergens or radiation. Waterborne could be microbial pollution of drinking water, or chemical contamination (metals, toxic, wastes, pesticides or agricultural chemicals). Food could be a risk factor for instance rhubarb causing oxaloses and liquorice causing salt and water retention with hypokalaemia.