A large new epidemiological study in Japan finds that even at background levels of exposure, people with higher levels of dioxin and dioxin-like PCBs are a significantly greater risk to metabolic syndrome, which includes high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes. Metabolic syndrome is a very significant public health problem in the US and many other industrialized countries, including Asian nations like Japan. All of the dioxin-like chemicals measured, including dioxin itself, were linked to the disorder. Using a method to assess total exposure to this family of chemicals, they found that the people most exposed were over five times more likely to suffer from the health condition. Looking at some of the chemicals one-at-a-time, they found that some, by themselves, had an even stronger relationship, as high as 8 to 9 times more likely. 13 October 2008. More...

In human fat tissues, bisphenol A suppresses levels of a key hormone, adiponectin, that protects people from heart attacks and Type II diabetes. These results implicate BPA as a potential cause of metabolic syndrome, one of the most serious and costly public health problems in the US. 18 August 2008. More... [related stories]

People living closer to hazardous waste sites containing persistent organic pollutants are more likely to be hospitalized for diabetes. The results are consistent with other epidemiological research showing association between exposure to POPs and diabetes. The risk was higher in a subset of sites along the Hudson River, where there was higher income, less smoking, better diet and more exercise. 6 January 2007. More... [related stories]

Data gathered by the US CDC reveal strong associations between exposures to persistent contaminants and risk of type 2 diabetes. In a sample of 2,016 Americans, diabetes risk rose significantly with exposure to five of 6 studied contaminants (a PCB, two dioxins and three pesticides). Using an index reflecting simultaneous exposure to the mix of contaminants, the study found that people in the highest exposure category were almost 38 times more likely to have diabetes than those in the lowest. 4 December 2006. More... [related stories]

Researchers report striking dose-response relationships between serum concentrations of 6 persistent organic pollutants and the prevalence of diabetes, and they conclude that the associations between POPs and diabetes are likely to be causal. After controlling for potentially confounding variables, an analysis of combined exposures to all 6 POPs studies showed a strong dose-dependent relationship (p < 0.001). The association between diabetes and POPs were stronger in obese patients than in lean. Diabetes Care. 24 August 2006. More... [related stories]

A 25-yr follow-up finds that PCB but not PBB levels are predictive of Type II diabetes in women. No association was seen in men. The data come from the 'Michigan PBB' cohort, established to assess the long-term health effects of exposures to polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs). The results are consistent with earlier studies of diabetes and PCBs. Epidemiology. 14 July 2006. More... [related stories]

Science Byte: A study of Swedish fishermen and their wives finds a small but statistically significant association between persistent contaminant levels and Type 2 diabetes. Men and women with higher PCB (CB-153) levels were more likely to have diabetes. Women showed a stronger association with DDE than with CB-153. Environmental Health. 29 November 2005. More... [related stories] [Subscription Required]