Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - Page updated at 07:07 AM
Close-up
Study: global warming may increase kidney stones
Global warming could do more than hurt polar bears: It could force a rise in kidney stones, scientists warned Monday. "We see a relationship...
USA Today
Global warming could do more than hurt polar bears: It could force a rise in kidney stones, scientists warned Monday.
"We see a relationship between kidney stones and temperatures everywhere," says study co-author Margaret Pearle of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. "Even in places with air conditioning, warmer temperatures mean more stones."
Kidney stones result from salts crystallizing in the kidneys, often triggered by dehydration, causing famously painful blockages. Warm Southeastern states get 50 percent more cases than Northeastern states. The new research says global warming will drive this kidney-stone "belt" north and cause at least 1.6 million new cases by 2050.
The U.N.-sponsored Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned last year that industrial emissions of greenhouse gases very likely would raise average global temperatures 3 to 7 degrees this century. That would increase the risks for heat stroke and expand tropical diseases such as malaria.
The kidney-stone finding, reported Monday by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, combines the panel's projections of higher U.S. temperatures with Medicare and Veterans Administration health records to estimate how many extra U.S. kidney-stone cases will result.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
UPDATE - 10:01 AM
Rebels tighten hold on Libya oil port
UPDATE - 09:29 AM
Reality leads US to temper its tough talk on Libya
UPDATE - 09:38 AM
2 Ark. injection wells may be closed amid quakes
Armed guards save Dutch couple from Somali pirates
Navy to release lewd video investigation findings

This feature requires Flash 7.
Top video | World | Science / Tech | Entertainment
general classifieds
Garage & estate salesFurniture & home furnishings
Electronics
just listed
***Stunning Akc POMERANIAN baby girl W/ FUL...
12 U Select Baseball Coach Wanted
1994 WIn 1901
More listings
POST A FREE LISTING
- Agency set to investigate handling of 911 call about Josh Powell
- Proposal to link Market, aquarium may be too ambitious for Seattle
- Chilling 911 tapes reveal pleas for help to go to Josh Powell home
- Lakewood cop accused of embezzling $150K meant for slain officers' families
- UW's Shawn Kemp Jr. makes own way despite familiar name, number | Steve Kelley
- State Medicaid program to stop paying for unneeded ER visits
- NBA's David Stern open to league returning to Seattle
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
- Prosecutor: Powell's final act ends doubt he killed wife
- Was idea of court-ordered test too much for Josh Powell?
- State Medicaid program to stop paying for unneeded ER visits
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
- Here it is: The secret to stir-fried chicken | Taste
- Local aerospace suppliers say they feel squeezed by Boeing
- Dicks channeled federal money to Puget Sound project his son ran
- 'Gauguin and Polynesia': dazzling mix-and-match | Art review
- Buttoned Up: Nine immutable laws of time management
- Happy Hour: French-accented charm at Gainsbourg
- One man's audacious pursuit of sailing history
- Gay-marriage bill passes House, awaits Gregoire's signature