In this study, we employed Nrf2 agonist dimethyl fumarate (DMF), Nrf2 inhibitor (ML385), Nrf2-knockout mice and ferroptosis inhibitor (Ferrostatin-1) to test the hypothesis that activation of the Nrf2 pathway attenuates drowning-induced ALI by inhibiting ferroptosis both in vivo and in vitro. This evidence concerns the gene NFE2L2 and acute respiratory distress syndrome.