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From the article: "Instead of his usual fare of nephrology and diabetes papers, Johnson began to pore over global maps of climate and solar radiation. The rise

From the article: "Instead of his usual fare of nephrology and diabetes papers, Johnson began to pore over global maps of climate and solar radiation. The rise in average temperatures over the last few years in Central America had been incremental, but the number of extreme events had gone up disproportionately. “And, by gosh, the areas that have the highest solar radiation and heatwaves are overlapping the places right where the epidemics are.”" You might not agree with what they are saying, but they are clearly arguing that climate change is a factor in the epidemic.

pdonis 8y ago
> they are clearly arguing that climate change is a factor in the epidemic. Yes, because they're failing to even ask the question of why there is no clean water supply in the first place. That's not a climate problem. If it's not OK now when the temperatures are a degree or so warmer, it wasn't OK before either.
- qqqwerty 8y ago
  This is what the article says, in regards to water: "Frequently, not trusting the quality of local drinking water, workers drink sodas and soft drinks, and experimental evidence suggests that doing so can lead to even more kidney damage." I find it hard to believe that someone who has access to soft drinks doesn't have access to clean water. The way I read the above statement, is that the workers don't trust the local water (i.e. well water or streams, it's not clear), so they bring their own hydration, but unfortunately they are bringing soft drinks instead of bottled water. So if you want to change the title, the alternate title would be 'Coca-Cola is turning dehydration into a deadly epidemic". But still, this is not quite right, because Coca-Cola has been in the global market place for decades, so I would presume workers drinking soft drinks in these areas is nothing new. But what is new is climate change, hence the original title.
  - pdonis 8y ago
    > This is what the article says, in regards to water Yes, and it doesn't even ask they question why the workers don't trust the quality of local drinking water. Which, as I said, is not a problem caused by climate change. > The way I read the above statement, is that the workers don't trust the local water (i.e. well water or streams, it's not clear), so they bring their own hydration, but unfortunately they are bringing soft drinks instead of bottled water. Which is, again, not a problem caused by climate change. > I would presume workers drinking soft drinks in these areas is nothing new. Neither is the kidney disease problem. It's been going on for at least 20 years, according to the article (which says that one of the doctors interviewed started in 1998 and saw the problem then). It's gotten worse over time because more people are working under these conditions, because the population has grown and more food is needed.
    - qqqwerty 8y ago
      Meanwhile, climate change deniers are pointing at the cold weather on the east coast as proof that climate change isn't real. It is entirely fair to suggest that the increase in heat waves that are likely caused by climate change may be causing an increase in kidney disease related deaths. There are certainly other issues at play, and in the grand scheme of things, this is probably not a difficult problem to solve compared to other climate related issues, but this issue is interesting precisely because it was unexpected. We are still struggling to get a good idea of what the impacts of climate change will be, and this finding helps inform that effort.
      - pdonis 8y ago
        > It is entirely fair to suggest that the increase in heat waves that are likely caused by climate change may be causing an increase in kidney disease related deaths. Which still doesn't address the issue of why the obvious remedy--access to clean water--is not in place. > this issue is interesting precisely because it was unexpected. Oh, please. It's been going on for more than 20 years. Unexpected? To me, this is just sensationalist journalism that would rather post clickbait headlines than actually dig into the real problem.
      - pdonis 8y ago

pdonis 8y ago

> they are clearly arguing that climate change is a factor in the epidemic. Yes, because they're failing to even ask the question of why there is no clean water supply in the first place. That's not a climate problem. If it's not OK now when the temperatures are a degree or so warmer, it wasn't OK before either.

qqqwerty 8y ago
This is what the article says, in regards to water: "Frequently, not trusting the quality of local drinking water, workers drink sodas and soft drinks, and experimental evidence suggests that doing so can lead to even more kidney damage." I find it hard to believe that someone who has access to soft drinks doesn't have access to clean water. The way I read the above statement, is that the workers don't trust the local water (i.e. well water or streams, it's not clear), so they bring their own hydration, but unfortunately they are bringing soft drinks instead of bottled water. So if you want to change the title, the alternate title would be 'Coca-Cola is turning dehydration into a deadly epidemic". But still, this is not quite right, because Coca-Cola has been in the global market place for decades, so I would presume workers drinking soft drinks in these areas is nothing new. But what is new is climate change, hence the original title.
- pdonis 8y ago
  > This is what the article says, in regards to water Yes, and it doesn't even ask they question why the workers don't trust the quality of local drinking water. Which, as I said, is not a problem caused by climate change. > The way I read the above statement, is that the workers don't trust the local water (i.e. well water or streams, it's not clear), so they bring their own hydration, but unfortunately they are bringing soft drinks instead of bottled water. Which is, again, not a problem caused by climate change. > I would presume workers drinking soft drinks in these areas is nothing new. Neither is the kidney disease problem. It's been going on for at least 20 years, according to the article (which says that one of the doctors interviewed started in 1998 and saw the problem then). It's gotten worse over time because more people are working under these conditions, because the population has grown and more food is needed.
  - qqqwerty 8y ago
    Meanwhile, climate change deniers are pointing at the cold weather on the east coast as proof that climate change isn't real. It is entirely fair to suggest that the increase in heat waves that are likely caused by climate change may be causing an increase in kidney disease related deaths. There are certainly other issues at play, and in the grand scheme of things, this is probably not a difficult problem to solve compared to other climate related issues, but this issue is interesting precisely because it was unexpected. We are still struggling to get a good idea of what the impacts of climate change will be, and this finding helps inform that effort.
    - pdonis 8y ago
      > It is entirely fair to suggest that the increase in heat waves that are likely caused by climate change may be causing an increase in kidney disease related deaths. Which still doesn't address the issue of why the obvious remedy--access to clean water--is not in place. > this issue is interesting precisely because it was unexpected. Oh, please. It's been going on for more than 20 years. Unexpected? To me, this is just sensationalist journalism that would rather post clickbait headlines than actually dig into the real problem.
    - pdonis 8y ago