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Updated: May 30, 2026
07:39
A Murine Pancreatic Islet Cell-based Screening for Diabetogenic Environmental Chemicals
Published on: June 25, 2018
Association between type 2 diabetes and exposure to persistent organic pollutants
Riikka Airaksinen1, Panu Rantakokko, Johan G Eriksson
1Department of Environmental Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland. riikka.airaksinen@thl.fi
Diabetes Care
|August 6, 2011
Summary
Exposure to certain organochlorine pesticides is linked to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes. This study found increased diabetes prevalence with higher levels of specific persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Endocrinology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Type 2 diabetes prevalence is rising globally.
- Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are suspected environmental risk factors for type 2 diabetes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between type 2 diabetes and exposure to POPs.
- Utilized data from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study for this cross-sectional analysis.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed data from 1,988 participants of the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study.
- Assessed serum POP concentrations and type 2 diabetes prevalence.
- Employed logistic regression, adjusting for covariates, to determine POP-diabetes associations.
Main Results:
- Higher exposure to oxychlordane, trans-nonachlor, p,p'-DDE, and PCB 153 was associated with a 1.64-2.24 times higher risk of type 2 diabetes.
- Associations were strongest among overweight individuals for oxychlordane and trans-nonachlor.
- No significant association was found between type 2 diabetes and BDE 47 or BDE 153 exposure.
Conclusions:
- Confirms a link between type 2 diabetes and adult exposure to organochlorine pesticides.
- Highlights POPs as potential contributors to type 2 diabetes in urban populations.
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