# Particulate exposure and kidney health: Diversity Supplement Villarreal Hernandez

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER · 2023 · $70,539

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
The overarching goals of this proposal are to contribute to the understanding of the causes, mechanisms, and
potential strategies for prevention of the international epidemic of chronic kidney disease of unknown origin
(CKDu). Our central hypothesis is that exposure to high concentrations of air contaminants will be associated
with acute kidney injury in agricultural workers and that heat stress and dehydration will produce adverse effects
on kidney biomarkers. We further hypothesize that this damage occurs through a vasopressin-mediated injury
pathway.
Access to a population of sugarcane workers in cooperation with a major Guatemalan agribusiness will allow for
a study that characterizes sugarcane worker exposure to particulate matter (PM) and it constituents (silica,
glyphosate, and metals) in conjunction with personal factors, including dehydration and heat stress. We will
examine the individual contribution of air contaminant exposure, as well as the combined contribution of
exposure and personal risk factors, on kidney dysfunction. In addition, we will investigate the mechanistic role of
the vasopressin pathway to pathogenesis of CKDu. This research will: a) investigate an unexplored exposure
pathway to identify inhalation exposures that may place agricultural workers at risk for the development of kidney
dysfunction by conducting a robust personal exposure assessment, b) evaluate the relationship between
exposure(s) and acute kidney injury, and c) examine underlying mechanisms by which dehydration and heat
stress contribute to increased risk of CKDu in conjunction with nephrotoxicant exposures.
To address this hypothesis, three aims are proposed: Aim 1 focuses on characterizing exposure to PM, silica,
metals, and glyphosate in Guatemalan sugarcane workers and examining the impact of meteorological factors
on personal exposure. We will use prospective, quantitative personal measurements in workers. Aim 2 will
evaluate the relationship between occupational air contaminant exposure and kidney biomarkers of effect to
identify workers with increased risk of cross-shift worsening renal function and inflammation. Aim 3 will evaluate
the potential mechanism by which environmental and individual risk factors induce kidney injury. The proposed
panel study will collect repeat respirable PM personal air samples across two 6-month harvest seasons in two
groups of 60 workers, totaling 120 workers. First, we will collect baseline questionnaire and clinical data and
biological samples from participants at the time of hire at a sugarcane plantation in Guatemala. Next, we will
collect personal air measurements for each participant during the entire work shift to estimate daily airborne
exposure to silica, glyphosate, and heavy metals, as well as urine and blood biomarkers pre- and post-shift at
three time points for each worker during the two seasons.
Results of this research will lead to large-scale intervention trials that will hel...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10770032
- **Project number:** 3R01ES031585-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER
- **Principal Investigator:** JOHN L. ADGATE
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $70,539
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2023-04-27 → 2025-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10770032

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10770032, Particulate exposure and kidney health: Diversity Supplement Villarreal Hernandez (3R01ES031585-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10770032. Licensed CC0.

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