Air Pollution-Induced Chronic Kidney Disease

We all know that air pollution is detrimental to your health. In large parts of the world the environment is so polluted with continued air pollution that incidences of cardiovascular diseases are rising sharply.

Air pollution depends on the size of the pollutants you inhale. Usually two sizes, called Particle Matter (PM) are studied: PM₁₀ and PM_2.5. PM₁₀ are inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 10 micrometers and smaller. PM_2.5: fine inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometers and smaller.

Science has studied the effects on your lungs and found positive associations between cardiorespiratory diseases and different air pollutants. Worldwide studies showed statistical significance for all pollutants, suggesting that variables in particle size influence the average cardiorespiratory disease risk and may explain the varying effects of air pollution[1].

But your lungs are not the only organ that is diseased in the long run. Your kidneys are also at risk for Chronic Kidney Disease. Now, a study has used a database of 2,482,737 United States veterans and liked their possible exposure to air pollution (PM_2.5) with satellite data. Which answered the question where these veterans were at a given moment in time and wat the air pollution was at that moment.

The study found that an increase in PM_2.5 concentration was associated with similarly increased risk of Chronic Kidney Disease[2]. We would like to suggest to call this particular variant: Air Pollution-Induced Chronic Kidney Disease.

Air pollution is also linked to kidney, bladder, and colorectal cancer, a new study finds. Researchers observed 43,320 non-lung cancer deaths. PM_2.5 was significantly positively associated with death from cancers of the kidney[3]

[1] Requia et al: Global Association of Air Pollution and Cardiorespiratory Diseases: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Investigation of Modifier Variables in American Journal of Public Health – 2017 
[2] Bowe et al: Particulate Matter Air Pollution and the Risk of Incident CKD and Progression to ESRD in American Society of Nephrology – 2017 
[3] Taylor et al: Ambient Air Pollution and Cancer Mortality in the Cancer Prevention Study II in Environmental Health Perspectives -2017