Silica Nanoparticles and Mesoamerican Nephropathy: A Case Series

Silica exposure has been associated with chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu). Both sugarcane and rice contain amorphous silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) that can be released into the air following burning, where they can be inhaled, or potentially seep into the groundwater, where they may be ingested. Unlike crystalline silica, which is larger in size and causes lung disease, amorphous silica nanoparticles can pass through the lung to the kidney, where they can induce inflammation and chronic kidney disease in rats. We therefore performed a pilot study to determine if SiNPs are increased in the kidney tissue of individuals with Mesoamerican nephropathy (MeN), a type of CKDu from Central America.