Atmospheric stressors and kidney diseases

The adverse effects of atmospheric conditions - including ambient air pollution from industry, wildfires and extreme atmospheric temperatures - on human health are well documented. However, their hazardous roles in kidney health have often been overlooked, despite the existence of plausible biological mechanisms for pathogenic effects. Emerging evidence from epidemiological studies indicates that exposures to ambient air pollutants such as particulate matter (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀), nitrogen dioxide, ozone, wildfire smoke and extreme hot and cold temperatures may increase the risks of acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease and kidney failure, with experimental findings supporting the existence of corresponding mechanistic pathways. These findings suggest that exposure to atmospheric stressors contributes to a decline in kidney function and worsened health outcomes. Available evidence also suggests that certain populations may be particularly vulnerable to these stressors, further increasing their risk of kidney disease. A deeper understanding of the mechanisms linking ambient stressors to kidney health, along with the identification of high-risk populations, may help to guide research priorities and support targeted and pre-emptive action in nephrology.