Working under the sun may unknowingly be damaging kidneys

Veni E N

Nov 04, 2025

Health

Health

Under the blazing sun of Tamil Nadu’s farmlands, workers bend over paddy fields for hours, often with little rest and less water.

Health

Many of them return home drained, with their exhaustion dismissed as routine.

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However, new research suggests that this daily strain may be leaving behind damage far more serious than fatigue; it could be silently harming their kidneys.

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Study found that about one in 19 agricultural workers in Tamil Nadu shows signs of chronic kidney disease (CKD), and in nearly half the cases, doctors could not link it to diabetes or high blood pressure.

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The findings raise unsettling questions about the role of extreme heat, dehydration, and harsh working conditions in rural India’s heartland.