As of 6.17am on October 30, 2025, the AQI in Delhi is recorded at 406, and falls under the category 'Hazardous'. Major pollutants are PM2.5, PM10, CO, So2, No2, and O3. We have long known air pollution's impact on respiratory health and lungs, however, it is beyond that. With levels as high as 'hazardous', the pollution could also damage our kidneys. Dr Sanjeev Gulati, nephrologist in Fortis, Delhi, writes that the detrimental effects of air pollution are not only evident in the respiratory and circulatory system, but it can also extend to renal function. He writes, "The kidneys are particularly vulnerable to the toxic effects of environmental pollutants due to their critical role in filtration. Environmental and occupational exposure to pollutants remains a common cause of kidney disease globally, especially in developing countries."Up to 22% of the global disease burden and 23% of deaths are attributed to environmental pollution. There have been various studies that show the long-term exposure from particulate matter and how it is linked to an increased risk of membranous nephropathy and decline in renal function. What Is Membranous Nephropathy?It is a kidney disease caused by the damage to the kidney's filtration system. This could lead to significant protein leakage into the urine. This could happen due to the PM exposure. In fact, a 2025 study published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology highlighted the role of air pollution in the rising risk of new kidney diseases. The study was able to track 2.5 million veterans, who were free of kidney diseases in 2003 and 2004, over an average of 8.5 years. The researchers then compared their health outcomes to air pollution levels. The study then found that for every 10 microgram increase in pollution per cubic meter of air, there was a 25 to 37% increase in new kidney disease case, a 36% rise in rapid kidney function decline, and a 31% increase in the risk of kidney failure requiring dialysis.How Does Pollution Damage Your Kidney? Dr Sean Hashmi, MD, MS, FASN, a board-certified nephrologist and obesity medicine specialist in the Southern Carolina, US, in a video on his YouTube channel that he uploaded to explain the impact of air pollution on kidney says, "your kidney is force to process a chemical soup day after day after day. And the main villain here is PM2.5." Dr Hashmi notes that once the PM2.5 is in your bloodstream, your body treats them like foreign invaders. "This triggers powerful inflammation throughout your system. Inflammation is your immune system's response to injury and threat. However, when inflammation becomes chronic [due to long exposure of PM2.5], it can damage healthy tissues." He says, as a result, these particle-filled blood arrives in your kidney. "Your kidneys have millions of tiny filters glomerulus, they are like cluster of blood vessels that act like coffee filters for your blood. The constant flow of abrasive particles creates low-grade sand blasting on these fragile filters. Over years this leads to permanent scarring and reduced kidney functions."
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