Persistent organic pollutants and β-cell toxicity: a comprehensive review

Area of Science:

• Environmental toxicology
• Endocrinology
• Metabolic disease research

Background:

• Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are globally dispersed contaminants found in human tissues, including the pancreas.
• Epidemiological studies consistently correlate POP exposure with an elevated risk of developing diabetes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review epidemiological evidence on POPs and diabetes risk.
• To evaluate in vivo and in vitro evidence for POP-induced pancreatic beta-cell toxicity.

Main Methods:

• Review of epidemiological studies.
• Evaluation of in vivo and in vitro experimental data on six classes of POPs: dioxins, PCBs, OCPs, OPPs, flame retardants, and PFAS.
• Assessment of evidence for POPs affecting glucose homeostasis, beta-cell function, and oxidative stress pathways.

Main Results:

• Convincing evidence implicates POPs in impaired glucose homeostasis and beta-cell dysfunction.
• POPs alter metabolic and oxidative stress pathways within pancreatic islets.
• Findings support epidemiological data linking POPs to increased diabetes risk.

Conclusions:

• POPs are a contributing factor to diabetes risk via beta-cell toxicity.
• The endocrine pancreas should be considered in POP toxicity assessments.
• Significant gaps exist in research regarding islet-specific endpoints, biological sex, and secondary stressors in POP exposure studies.