Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 23, 2026

A Murine Pancreatic Islet Cell-based Screening for Diabetogenic Environmental Chemicals
Published on: June 25, 2018
Occupational exposure to urban pollutants and plasma insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1)
Francesco Tomei1, Manuela Ciarrocca, Maria Valeria Rosati
1University of Rome La Sapienza, Department of Occupational Medicine, Italy. francesco.tomei@uniroma1.it
Abstract:
The aim of present study is to evaluate whether traffic policemen exposed to urban pollutants and possible psycho-social stressors could be at risk of alterations on plasma insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) levels compared to a control group. Out of a population of 395 Municipal Police employees, the subjects with principal confounding factors (cigarette smoking habits, drinking habits, oral contraceptives being taken, use of paints, solvents and pesticides) were excluded from the study. The remaining traffic policemen were matched with those not exposed by sex, age and length of service; 49 traffic policemen (22 men and 27 women) with outdoor activity exposed to urban pollutants and 49 not exposed subjects (22 men and 27 women) with indoor activity were included in the study. The plasma levels of IGF-1 resulted significantly higher in the male and female traffic policemen compared with control subjects (respectively P<0.001; P<0.001). The authors hypothesise that occupational exposure to chemical stressors, that may interact with possible psycho-social stressors, could cause an alteration on IGF-1 levels in traffic policemen.
Related Concept Videos
Type I Diabetes II: Pathophysiology
Type I Diabetes I: Introduction
Hyperglycemia
Type I Diabetes III: Clinical Manifestations
Insulin: Dosing Regimen and Adverse Effects
The basal dose constitutes about 40%-50% of the total daily dose, with the rest as premeal insulin. The mealtime insulin dose should mirror...
Hormones Regulating Blood Glucose
In addition to accelerating glucose uptake and utilization, insulin has...