Air Pollution May Increase Risk of First Hospital Admissions for Acute Kidney Injury: Study

A recent study conducted by a team of scientists, including Assistant Professor Whanhee Lee from Pusan National University, has confirmed the link between air pollution and the risk of hospitalization for acute kidney injury (AKI). The study, which analyzed data from over 61 million Medicare beneficiaries in the continental United States, found that exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone (O3) increased the risk of first hospital admission for AKI, even at annual exposures lower than the current National Ambient Air Quality Standard. The study also identified older adults (>75 years), White people, and those not eligible for Medicare as being more vulnerable to the effects of air pollution on AKI. These findings suggest that stricter air pollution standards may alleviate the risk of AKI, and have important implications for public health policies aimed at reducing healthcare expenditures and disease burden. The study has been peer-reviewed and published in Environmental Health Perspectives, and highlights the credibility of Science X’s editorial process and policies.