Associations between Long-Term Particulate Matter Exposure and Adult Renal Function in the Taipei Metropolis

Studies on the effect of air pollutions on kidney diseases are still limited.

We aimed to investigate the associations between particulate matter (PM) exposures and renal function among adults.

We recruited 21,656 adults as participants from 2007 to 2009. The Taiwanese Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation was used to derive the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Subjects with an eGFR lower than 60 mL/min/1.73 m² were defined as having chronic kidney disease (CKD). Land use regression (LUR) models were used to estimate individual exposures to PM with an aerodynamic diameter < 10 μm (PM₁₀), coarse particles (PM_Coarse), fine particles (PM_2.5), and PM_{2.5Absorbance}. Generalized linear and logistic regression models were used to estimate the associations between PM exposure and renal function.

An IQR increase in PM₁₀ (5.83 μg/m³) was negatively associated with eGFR by -0.69 (95% CI: -0.89, -0.48) mL/min/1.73 m² and positively associated with the prevalence of CKD with adjusted OR = 1.15 (95% CI: 1.07, 1.23). An IQR increase in PM_Coarse (6.59 μg/m³) was significantly associated with lower eGFR by -1.07 (95% CI: -1.32, -0.81) mL/min/1.73 m² and CKD with OR = 1.26 (95% CI: 1.15, 1.38). In contrast, neither outcome was significantly associated with PM_2.5 or PM_{2.5Absorbance}. Stratified analyses indicated that associations of CKD with both PM₁₀ and PM_Coarse were limited to participants < 65 years of age, and were stronger (for PM₁₀) or limited to (PM_Coarse) women. Associations also appeared to be stronger in those without (vs. with) hypertension, and in normal versus overweight participants.

Exposure during the previous year to PM₁₀ and PM_Coarse, but not PM_2.5 or PM_{2.5Absorbance}, was associated with reduced renal function among Taiwanese adults.