Air Pollution Tied to Kidney Disease By NICHOLAS BAKALAR, The New York Times. SEPT. 21, 2017

Source of Discovery A team of scientists from Washington University in St. Louis and the Veterans Affairs St. Louis Health Care System found an association between tiny particulate matter (PM) and kidney disease in two different data sets.

FOCUS OF STUDY The study focused on a type of pollution called PM 2.5, which is particulate matter up to 2.5 microns in size. This particular form of pollution can come from myriad sources, including vehicle emissions, fossil fuel power plants, wildfires or even campfires.

PM stands for particulate matter (also called particle pollution): the term for a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. Some particles, such as dust, dirt, or smoke, are large or dark enough to be seen with the naked eye. Others are so small they can only be detected using an electron microscope.

Data & Sample Population Data on air pollution from NASA and the Environmental Protection Agency were used The team followed 2,482,737 (almost 2.5 million) veterans for an average of eight and a half years. The Department of Veterans Affairs database includes information on glomerular filtration rate, or G.F.R., a measure of kidney function. LO1

Results They found that increases in PM 2.5 corresponded directly with decreases in G.F.R., indicating worsening kidney function. PM 2.5 particles are small enough to enter the bloodstream where they make their way to the kidneys. LO1

That is, the worse the air quality, the worse the outcomes. Kidney health in veterans living in the dirtiest air during the study period fared the worst. And there was a clear linear relationship between pollution levels and kidney disease. That is, the worse the air quality, the worse the outcomes. LO1

The scientists calculate that “unhealthy” pollution levels lead to an annual increase of 44,793 cases of chronic kidney disease, and 2,438 cases of end-stage kidney disease requiring dialysis. LO1

Air pollution has already been linked to health problems as varied as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and weight gain. Air pollution has been linked to health problems as varied as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and weight gain. The study's authors say that one of those conditions could be responsible for kidney damage, rather than the pollution itself. LO1

The World Health Organisation estimates that air pollution is responsible for around seven million premature deaths globally each year, and links to a raft of health problems, from asthma and chronic lung disease to cardiovascular disease and stroke. Air pollution has been linked to health problems as varied as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and weight gain. The study's authors say that one of those conditions could be responsible for kidney damage, rather than the pollution itself. LO1

The senior author of the team, Dr The senior author of the team, Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, an assistant professor of medicine at Washington University in St. Louis, said that diabetes and hypertension are still the major drivers of kidney disease. But, he said, “Air pollution is a previously unrecognized factor for kidney disease and kidney disease progression.” Air pollution has been linked to health problems as varied as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and weight gain. The study's authors say that one of those conditions could be responsible for kidney damage, rather than the pollution itself. LO1

Cost/Benefit Analysis U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory estimated that three-quarters of the country’s current small vehicle fleet could be charged by our existing electrical grid without building new power plants. (And if all those cars were replaced by PHEVs, it would eliminate the need for 6.5 billion barrels of oil per day, or 52 percent of current U.S. oil imports.) LO1

Cost/Benefit Analysis All-electric vehicles produce zero direct emissions, which specifically helps improve air quality in urban areas. So should we consider Electric cars as alternative form of Transportation, and at what cost presently? How much of improvement will it have on Air pollution (say in 20 years from now), and reducing diseases associated with Air pollution (its benefits on good health)? LO1

References https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/21/well/live/air-pollution-tied-to-kidney-disease.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fhealth http://jasn.asnjournals.org/content/early/2017/09/21/ASN.2017030253.full https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/21/new-study-shows-air-pollution-may-be-causing-kidney-disease-in-the-us.html https://cosmosmagazine.com/biology/kidney-disease-linked-to-air-pollution https://energy.gov/eere/electricvehicles/reducing-pollution-electric-vehicles https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/electric-cars-cost-per-charge/