Association between ambient air pollution and renal function indicators: A comprehensive systematic review and...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Nephrology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Ambient air pollution is increasingly recognized as a significant environmental risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD).
• Renal function indicators are crucial for diagnosing and grading kidney diseases.
• Understanding the link between air pollutants and kidney function is vital for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a meta-analysis assessing the associations between ambient air pollution and key renal function indicators.
• To quantify the impact of various air pollutants on markers like eGFR, serum creatinine, and BUN.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was performed across PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase up to September 27, 2024.
• Included studies reported associations between ambient particulate matter (PM1, PM2.5, PM10), NO2, O3, SO2, CO and renal function indicators (eGFR, SCr, BUN, UA, CysC).
• Meta-analyses included 32 studies with over 3 million adult participants.

Main Results:

• Long-term exposure to PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 was associated with decreased eGFR.
• Long-term PM2.5 exposure was linked to elevated serum creatinine (SCr) and uric acid (UA).
• Short-term PM2.5 exposure was associated with lower eGFR and higher blood urea nitrogen (BUN).

Conclusions:

• Ambient air pollution poses a detrimental risk to kidney function.
• Specific pollutants like PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 show significant associations with impaired renal indicators.
• Further research and public health interventions are warranted to mitigate the effects of air pollution on kidney health.