Weeds – Journal of the Asian-Pacific Weed Science Society
| Volume |
Issue |
Publication year |
Page No |
Type of article |
|
8 |
1 |
2026 |
26-31 |
Perspective |
Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Aetiology (CKDu) and Alleged Presence of Pesticides in Water Sources in Sri Lanka
M. W. C. Dharma-wardana
Email:
Chandre.dharma@yahoo.ca
Address:
Current Address: Department of Physics, Université de Montréal, Complexe des Sciences, Avenue Thérèse-Lavoie-Roux, Montréal, QC H2V 0B3 Canada.
Keywords:
Vlahos et al. (2021) have reported the presence of pesticide contamination above safe levels in well water in a region in Sri Lanka where Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology (CKDu) is endemic and have drawn a linkage between the two. This claim goes against the generally accepted views on the composition of well water in these regions. They conclude “that agrochemical use in … the Green Revolution … may now be contributing to ill health, rapid progression of disease, and mortality”. The authors propose “reducing … agrochemical contaminants in Sri Lanka and other tropical countries to reduce … CKDu”. These conclusions, tantamount to identifying the aetiology of CKDu, are unsupported by the evidence presented, even at the level of the simplest Bradford-Hill criteria of causation.
Abstract:
Chronic Kidney Disease; CKDU, agrochemicals