Iman Ghasemzadeh
1 
, Mohadeseh Javadi
2 , Pourya Bagherian Kenari
3 , Ali Emadzadeh
4 , Meysam Ziaei Mehr
5,6 , Elham Ahmadipour
7 , Hossein Mardanparvar
8,9 , Seyedeh Arefeh Javadi
10* 1 Research Center of Tropical and Infectious Diseases Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
2 Student Research Committee, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Iran
3 School of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
4 Department of Internal Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
5 Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
6 Department of Nursing, Qeshm Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qeshm, Iran
7 Baradaran Research Laboratory, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
8 Department of Nursing, Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
9 Guissu Research Corporation, Bandar Abbas, Iran
10 Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
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.
Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education:
Air pollution introduces a mixture of harmful pollutants into the environment, many of which have been identified as significant contributors to kidney damage. Pollutants like particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and heavy metals enter the bloodstream upon inhalation and are subsequently transported to various organs, which damage the renal tissues. Given the far-reaching implications of air quality on overall health, addressing air pollution should be viewed as a public health priority aimed at safeguarding kidney health and preventing chronic disease. Regulatory measures to reduce exposure to harmful pollutants will be crucial in mitigating the current burden of kidney disease while promoting environmental health equity across diverse populations.
Please cite this paper as: Ghasemzadeh I, Javadi M, Bagherian Kenari P, Emadzadeh A, Ziaei Mehr M, Ahmadipour E, Mardanparvar H, Javadi SA. Air pollution and kidney disease; a comprehensive updated overview of recent evidence on functional and structural alterations. J Nephropharmacol. 2025;14(2):e12789. DOI: 10.34172/npj.2025.12789.