Longitudinal Renal Function Degradation Among Florida Agricultural Workers

Roxana C Chicas; Lisa Elon; Nezahualcoyotl Xiuhtecutli; Donghai Liang; Madelyn C Houser; Tuzo Mwarumba; Liris Berra; Vicki Hertzberg; Jeff M Sands; Linda McCauley

doi:10.1097/JOM.0000000000003142

Longitudinal Renal Function Degradation Among Florida Agricultural Workers

J Occup Environ Med. 2024 May 15. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003142. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Roxana C Chicas¹, Lisa Elon², Nezahualcoyotl Xiuhtecutli, Donghai Liang³, Madelyn C Houser¹, Tuzo Mwarumba⁴, Liris Berra³, Vicki Hertzberg¹, Jeff M Sands⁵, Linda McCauley¹

Affiliations

¹ Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
² Rollins School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
³ Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
⁴ Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
⁵ Division of Renal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.

PMID: 38748403
DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003142

Abstract

Objective: This longitudinal study evaluated renal function and acute kidney injury (AKI) over time in U.S. agricultural workers.

Methods: We followed Florida agricultural workers from January 2020 to August 2022, collecting blood and urine pre- and post-workday during 5 visits.

Results: Pre-workday eGFR function in all participants was lower in summers but relatively consistent over time. In participants who worked almost exclusively in fernery operations (piece-rate compensation), we observed a high incidence of post-workday AKI in 2020 (21%) that increased to 43% by the end of the study. In comparison, 11% of nursery workers (hourly compensation) had AKI, and this rate was fairly stable.

Conclusion: AKI risk over time differs according to the type of agricultural work. Piece rate workers who are incentivized to forgo rest breaks and hydration to earn higher wages demonstrate steadily increasing rates of AKI.