Air pollution linked to rising kidney disease hospitalization risks

The study estimated the risk of hospitalization for three kidney conditions based on the levels of this type of air pollution from 2011 to 2021. Men across different age groups were found to be at the highest risk of hospitalization.

Exposure to even low concentrations of this pollutant – considering the World Health Organization (WHO) limit of 15 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m³) of fine particulate matter over 24 hours – is sufficient to increase men's risk of hospitalization for acute kidney injury, one of the conditions analyzed. In this case, the risk does not increase for women.

"Exposure of São Paulo residents to this material reached 65 μg/m³, more than four times the maximum tolerable level according to the WHO. However, even concentrations within the limit showed a link to hospitalizations for kidney diseases, indicating the need to intensify policies to reduce air pollution," says Iara da Silva, the first author of the study. Da Silva conducted the research as part of her doctoral studies at the Institute of Astronomy, Geophysics, and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of São Paulo (IAG-USP), and she is currently pursuing postdoctoral research at the Federal Technological University of Paraná (UTFPR).

Increased risk

This level of exposure also increased the cumulative risk of hospitalization for membranous nephropathy, a form of glomerulopathy, regardless of age or sex.

"The hypothesis is that particulate matter can enter the bloodstream and deposit in kidney tissue, where it's recognized by the immune system as a foreign body, causing the body to produce a series of inflammatory mediators, as well as mediators of fibrosis and premature aging [senescence]," Andrade explains.

"In the animals, we observed that those exposed to the particulate matter had a more severe disease. There was a decrease in glomerular filtration, more inflammation in the kidneys, more necroptosis [cell death] pathways, and they also exhibited markers of senescence and fibrosis. In the long term, there's a higher chance that the condition will progress to chronic kidney disease," she states.

Source:

São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)

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