In a large prospective study published in  the American Journal of Kidney Diseases AJKD of over 88,000 women from the California Teachers Study, researchers evaluated the effects of long-term exposure to uranium and arsenic in community drinking water on chronic kidney disease (CKD) risk.

Between 1995 and 2005, participants’ residential addresses were linked to time-weighted averages of uranium and arsenic concentrations in local water systems. From 2005 to 2018, 6,185 moderate-to-end-stage CKD cases were identified.

Uranium exposure, even at levels well below the current regulatory limit of 30 µg/L, was associated with a significantly increased CKD risk. For example, exposure levels between 10–15 µg/L carried a 33% greater risk of CKD compared to <2 µg/L. Arsenic was not significantly associated with CKD overall but showed risk in younger individuals and those with diabetes or cardiovascular disease. These findings remained robust even after adjusting for demographic, lifestyle, and socioeconomic factors.

Why is this important?

This study underscores the potential nephrotoxic effects of uranium in drinking water, even at concentrations currently deemed "safe" by regulatory standards. It calls into question whether existing guidelines are adequate to protect kidney health, especially in vulnerable populations.

As chronic kidney disease continues to rise globally, often without a clear cause, understanding and mitigating environmental exposures like low-level uranium becomes crucial. These findings advocate for stricter drinking water standards, using high-quality water filtration systems, and further investigation into chronic low-dose exposures, particularly in communities already burdened by other health disparities.

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