The impact of air pollution and heat on kidney health in women in Central America
Official title: Air pollutants, heat exposure, and kidney health: A longitudinal study in women in Central America
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11053631 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how air pollution and heat might impact the kidney health of women working in agriculture, especially sugarcane fields in Central America, by tracking 200 female workers over three years to see how these environmental factors could affect their health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $590,989 |
| NIH project number | 5R01ES034042-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11053631 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are women working in agricultural settings in Guatemala and Nicaragua, particularly those exposed to high levels of air pollution.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not work in agricultural environments or are not exposed to significant air pollutants may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how exposure to air pollutants and heat affects kidney health in women, particularly those working in agriculture in Central America. The study will monitor airborne contaminants and their potential link to kidney injury and inflammation over three years, focusing on 200 female sugarcane workers. Participants will undergo repeated monitoring during high exposure periods to assess the relationship between environmental factors and kidney health outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and prevention strategies for chronic kidney disease in at-risk women.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been significant research on kidney disease in males, this approach focusing on women and air pollution is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Newman, Lee S — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Newman, Lee S
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.