Glyphosate exposure increases early kidney injury biomarker KIM-1 in the pediatric population: a cross-sectional study

Glyphosate exposure has been associated with adverse health effects, ranging from metabolic disruptions to neurological diseases, with the severity of impacts varying according to age and duration of exposure. Nevertheless, evidence of these health effects in the pediatric population remains limited. Given the heightened developmental sensitivity of children, they are particularly vulnerable to potential harm. Studies had associated glyphosate exposure with both acute and chronic kidney damage, emphasizing the need for alternative biomarkers to detect subclinical lesions before clinical symptoms appear. To achieve early diagnosis and detection of early damage, it is necessary to measure other biomarkers, like KIM-1, a type 1 transmembrane protein up-regulated in tubular epithelia cells after a renal injury lesion, offering a potential for early detection of subclinical renal injury.

In the present study, kidney injury related to glyphosate exposure was assessed in 221 pediatric individuals. Glyphosate and KIM-1 were measured by immunoassays. A significant increase in KIM-1 concentrations was observed in the groups with the highest median concentrations of glyphosate. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that KIM-1 molecule concentration had an increasement of 42 % (CI 32 % – 52 %) on average per unit of glyphosate. Additionally, a SHAP model demonstrated that glyphosate concentrations accounted for approximately 51 % of the variability of KIM-1 concentrations. These findings underscore the importance of monitoring glyphosate exposure and its potential renal impact in children.