Fine particulate matter exposure and renal function: A population-based study among pregnant women in China.

• We investigated the effects of PM 2.5 exposure on renal function among pregnant women. • Exposure to PM 2.5 and its chemical constituents is positively associated with urea nitrogen (UN) and uric acid (UA). • Exposure to PM 2.5 and its chemical constituents is negatively associated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). • PM 2.5 exposure is associated with reduced renal function among pregnant women. Fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) is the most serious environmental threat worldwide. The nephrotoxicity of PM 2.5 has been demonstrated in older adults, but no study has addressed the impacts of PM 2.5 exposure on renal function in pregnant women, who are recognized to be vulnerable and susceptible to PM 2.5 exposure. To evaluate whether exposures to PM 2.5 total mass and its chemical constituents were associated with reduced renal function among pregnant women in China. We measured serum concentrations of urea nitrogen (UN), uric acid (UA) and creatinine for 10,052 pregnant women in Shanghai, China. Exposures to PM 2.5 total mass and its 5 key chemical constituents during the whole pregnancy and each trimester of pregnancy was represented by satellite-based models. Exposures to PM 2.5 total mass and its chemical constituents of organic matter (OM), black carbon (BC), nitrate (NO 3 −) and ammonium (NH 4 +) were positively associated with serum levels of UN and UA, and negatively associated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). An interquartile rang (IQR) increase in PM 2.5 total mass, OM, BC, NO 3 – and NH 4 + exposure in third trimester was associated with 1.33 (β = -1.33, 95% CI, −1.79, −0.87), 1.67 (β = -1.67, 95% CI, −2.26, −1.07), 1.29 (β = -1.29, 95% CI,-1.89, −0.70), 1.16 (β = -1.16, 95% CI,-1.66, −0.65) and 0.76 (β = -0.76, 95% CI, −1.08, −0.44) mL/min/1.73 m2 decrease in eGFR, respectively. We concluded that exposures to PM 2.5 during pregnancy were associated with decreased renal function among pregnant women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]