NAISS
SUPR
NAISS Projects
SUPR
Noise and chronic kidney disease
Dnr:

simp2026012

Type:

NAISS SENS

Principal Investigator:

Emilie Helte

Affiliation:

Karolinska Institutet

Start Date:

2026-07-17

End Date:

2027-08-01

Primary Classification:

30116: Epidemiology

Webpage:

Allocation

Abstract

Growing evidence suggests that long-term exposure to air pollution increases the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD), potentially through both direct nephrotoxic effects and indirect impacts on the cardiovascular system. However, few studies have examined these associations at the relatively low exposure levels common in Northern Europe, despite their importance for estimating population health impacts and informing future air quality standards. In a first Swedish study based on the Malmö Diet and Cancer cohort, we observed substantially stronger associations than those reported in comparable international studies. We now aim to investigate the relationship between long-term exposure to PM₂.₅, PM₁₀, and NOₓ and CKD in several well-established Swedish cohorts, including the Swedish Mammography Cohort. Leveraging large populations, longitudinal follow-up, high-resolution air pollution exposure models, and high-quality national health registers, this project will provide robust evidence on the kidney health effects of air pollution at low exposure levels.