The facts that we have found out about air pollution are already quite frightening.

However, a new study reportedly suggests that air pollution may raise the risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to the news outlet the Business Standard.

Although we try hard not to think about it, the fact is that air pollution is increasingly becoming a problem. After taking into account patient risk factors, including age, diabetes and hypertension, Investigators reportedly found a link between the prevalence of chronic kidney disease and the increasing level of particulate matter in some areas of the United States.

Surprisingly, an elevated presence of chronic kidney disease was reportedly found when particulate matter levels were as low as 8.4 microgram per cubic metre, which is much lower than levels that are generally considered to be unhealthy for sensitive groups, including the elderly.

"If air pollution is a risk factor for CKD, the impact is likely to be even greater in countries where pollution levels are much higher than in the U.S.," stated lead author Jennifer L. Bragg-Gresham from the University of Michigan in the U.S.

She continued, "Future investigations should include lab-based diagnosis of CKD, longitudinal data measures of multiple air pollutants and individual exposure, and more extensive control of confounding factors."

For this particular study, Dr. Bragg-Gresham and her colleagues reportedly examined the 2010 Medicare medical data on 1.1 million people, according to the media outlet Counsel Heal. The team also reportedly looked at air-quality data gathered by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The study, titled "County-level Air Quality and the Prevalence of Diagnosed Chronic Kidney Disease in the U.S Medicare Population," was reportedly presented at the ASN Kidney Week 2014, which is taking place for November 11-16 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.