Air pollution and kidney disease; a comprehensive updated overview of recent evidence on functional and structural alterations

Abstract

The association between air pollution and renal health has gained increasing attention in recent years, with evidence suggesting that prolonged exposure to air pollution poses significant threats to both renal function and structural integrity of kidneys, with both immediate and long-term consequences on kidney health. Studies have indicated that various air pollutants are linked to the onset and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and other renal disorders. The evidence links short-term increases in pollutant concentrations to declines in glomerular filtration rates, while long-term exposure is associated with a heightened risk of CKD and structural damage to renal tissues. The mechanisms through which air pollution impacts renal health, systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and direct nephrotoxicity highlight the urgent need for public health policies aimed at improving air quality and protecting kidney health. The evidence emphasizes air pollution as a critical environmental risk factor contributing to kidney diseases globally. Copyright © 2025 The Author(s); Published by Society of Diabetic Nephropathy Prevention. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.