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  • Review Article
  • Published:

The effects of environmental chemicals on renal function

Nature Reviews Nephrology volume 11, pages 610–625 (2015)Cite this article

Subjects

Key Points

  • Exposure to organic contaminants occurs through normal daily and routine medical procedures, and is ubiquitous among healthy children and adults

  • Exposure to environmental chemicals that can damage the kidney can occur via dietary intake or as a consequence of medical interventions, such as haemodialysis or parenteral nutrition

  • The full impact of persistent exposure to environmental chemicals on renal function has not been addressed in great detail

  • Cross-sectional data from numerous studies worldwide indicate that exposure to organic chemicals can have adverse effects on glomerular filtration rate, albuminuria, blood pressure and serum uric acid concentration

  • Oxidative stress is a contributing factor to the adverse effects of environmental chemicals on cardiorenal function; additional studies are required to clarify the mechanism and long-term effects of environmental chemicals

Abstract

The global incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing among individuals of all ages. Despite advances in proteomics, genomics and metabolomics, there remains a lack of safe and effective drugs to reverse or stabilize renal function in patients with glomerular or tubulointerstitial causes of CKD. Consequently, modifiable risk factors that are associated with a progressive decline in kidney function need to be identified. Numerous reports have documented the adverse effects that occur in response to graded exposure to a wide range of environmental chemicals. This Review summarizes the effects of such chemicals on four aspects of cardiorenal function: albuminuria, glomerular filtration rate, blood pressure and serum uric acid concentration. We focus on compounds that individuals are likely to be exposed to as a consequence of normal consumer activities or medical treatment, namely phthalates, bisphenol A, polyfluorinated alkyl acids, dioxins and furans, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls. Environmental exposure to these chemicals during everyday life could have adverse consequences on renal function and might contribute to progressive cumulative renal injury over a lifetime. Regulatory efforts should be made to limit individual exposure to environmental chemicals in an attempt to reduce the incidence of cardiorenal disease.

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Figure 1: The integrated effects of environmental chemicals on cardiorenal function.

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Acknowledgements

The preparation of this review was supported in part by an NIH-NIDDK grant (number DK100307) awarded to L.T. and H.T., and an NIH–NIEHS grant (number ES022972) awarded to L.T. The authors would like to thank Judy Chen, Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, PA, USA for her assistance in finalizing the literature review that was conducted for preparation of this manuscript.

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    Anglina Kataria, Leonardo Trasande & Howard Trachtman

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Kataria, A., Trasande, L. & Trachtman, H. The effects of environmental chemicals on renal function. Nat Rev Nephrol 11, 610–625 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneph.2015.94

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