Type 2 Diabetes May be Linked to Pesticide Exposure
CAMBRIDGE, UK, January 25, 2008 (ENS) - Cambridge
University scientists are advocating more research into the possible
links between environmental pollution and type 2 diabetes, the most
common form of the disease. At least 171 million people worldwide
suffer from diabetes, according to estimates by the World Health
Organization.
In today's edition of the British medical journal "Lancet," Drs.
Oliver Jones and Julian Griffin highlight the need to research the
possible link between persistent organic pollutants, POPs, and insulin
resistance, which can lead to adult onset diabetes.
POPs is a group of chemicals which includes many pesticides such
as dieldrin, DDT, toxaphene and chlordane and several industrial
chemical products or byproducts including polychlorinated biphenyls, or
PCBs, dioxins and furans.
In their commentary, Jones and Griffin cite peer reviewed research
which demonstrates a strong relationship between the levels of POPs in
blood, particularly organochlorine compounds, and the risk of type 2
diabetes.
"Of course correlation does not automatically imply causation,"
says Dr. Jones. "But if there is indeed a link, the health implications
could be tremendous."
"At present there is very limited information," he said. "Research
into adult onset diabetes currently focuses on genetics and obesity;
there has been almost no consideration for the possible influence of
environmental factors such as pollution."
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Pesticide is sprayed on vegetables (Photo courtesy Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology,U. North Carolina)
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People with high levels of POPs in their blood are more likely to
develop insulin resistance, a precursor for type 2 diabetes, according
to a study by researchers in Korea that is cited by Jones and Griffin.
Previous research by the same group found a link between POPs and
type 2 diabetes. This study confirms that background exposure to
chemicals such as organochlorine pesticides and PCBs is also associated
with insulin resistance among people who do not yet have diabetes.
The Korean scientists found that people were more at risk of
diabetes if they were thin with high levels of POPs in their blood than
if they were overweight but with low levels of POPs.
Dr. Jones said, "I think research should be carried out to first
test the hypothesis that POPs exposure can cause diabetes, perhaps
using cell or tissue cultures, so we know for sure if this can occur."
"Assuming POPs can have this effect, the next step would be to try
and develop a method of treatment for those people who might be
affected," he said.
POPs came into prominence as effective pesticides with the
introduction of DDT in the 1940s. But many of these chemicals,
including DDT, fell out of favor after they were blamed for the
declining number of wild birds and other animals and the possible
negative human health effects.
The Stockholm Convention, an international treaty banning a dozen
of the world's most dangerous POPs that took effect in May 2004 has
helped reduce exposures, but many such chemicals remain in use and even
those that have been banned may linger in the environment for years.
Once released, POPs can travel long distances in the atmosphere
before they are deposited on land or in water. Humans can be exposed to
POPs through diet, occupational accidents and the environment.
As these compounds biodegrade slowly, they continue to find their
way into the food chain and ultimately into the blood streams of
individuals even though many of these toxins were banned many years
ago.
For example, chlordane was banned two decades ago in the United
States but continues to be present at high levels in the U.S. food
supply.
Because these compounds are fat soluble, they can persist in body fat for very long periods of time following exposure.
It is well documented that significant exposure to POPs can cause
negative health effects. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
states that the pesticide chlordane, for example, can cause cancer, can
lead to behavioral disorders in children if exposed before birth or
while nursing, and harms the endocrine system, nervous system,
digestive system, and liver.
But to date, the link between POPs and type 2 diabetes has only been suggested, not confirmed.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. In type 2
diabetes, either the body does not produce enough of the hormone
insulin or the cells ignore the insulin.
Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use glucose for
energy. When people eat, the body breaks down sugars and starches in
the food into glucose, the basic fuel for the body's cells.
Insulin carries the glucose from the blood into the cells. When
glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, the cells
may be starved for energy. Over time, high blood glucose levels may
damage the eyes, kidneys, nerves or heart.
The article by Jones and Griffin, "Environmental pollution
and diabetes: A neglected relationship," appears in today's edition of
the "Lancet."
--
Umendra Dutt
Executive Director
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God is omni present in entire nature and hurting nature is violence against the God