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. 2021 Jul-Sep;25(3):157-162.
doi: 10.4103/ijoem.ijoem_337_20. Epub 2021 Oct 9.

Persistent organic pollutants-environmental risk factors for diabetes mellitus? - A population-based study

Sudha Ramalingam  1   2 , Ramanujam Narayanan  3 , Sivaselvakumar Muthusamy  1 , Merlin Veronika  1 , Ramalingam Sankaran  1   3 , William Toscano  4
Affiliations

Persistent organic pollutants-environmental risk factors for diabetes mellitus? - A population-based study

Sudha Ramalingam et al. Indian J Occup Environ Med. 2021 Jul-Sep.

Abstract

Background: Globally, type-2 diabetes mellitus is increasing in epidemic proportions. A major cause of concern in India is the increasing incidence of cases, especially troubling is the observed increase in younger age groups with no risk factors. New evidence suggests that many environmental factors, such as air pollution, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and environmental estrogens are implicated as risk factors for type-2 diabetes mellitus. Animal and human epidemiological studies have shown ubiquitous lipophilic substances, including POPs, are frequently associated with type-2 diabetes mellitus. Such studies have not been undertaken in Indian youth.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that explored the association between POPs and type-2 diabetes mellitus in Indian urban and rural population. About 7 ml of venous blood was collected from all consenting patients and serum was separated immediately and was transported to the lab for further analysis. Serum levels of POPs, including organochlorine (OC) compounds and organophosphorus pesticides, were estimated using sample gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The fasting blood sugar values and the serum levels of POPS were tested using Pearson correlation coefficient. The magnitude of increase in blood sugar corresponding to increase in POPs was analyzed using linear regression analysis. The odds ratios (ORs) were expressed at 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results: Three OC pesticides and one organophosphate pesticide were strongly associated with increasing blood sugar levels after adjusting for age, sex, and body mass index - lindane (OR 4.95, 95% CI 1.03-23.73), DDT o, p' (OR 3.50, 95% CI 1.04-11.73), dimethoate (OR 19.31, 95% CI 4.22-88.37), and dichlorvas (OR 6.33, 95% CI 1.28-31.18).

Keywords: DDT; dimethoate; health effects; persistent organic pollutants; pesticides; type- 2 diabetes mellitus..

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Box plots for (a) Age and (b) BMI categorized as per gender
Figure 2
Figure 2
Concentrations of major POPs compounds in the serum of the participants. End.Ketone - Endrin Ketone; Par.Methyl - Parathion methyl; Mono - Monocrotophos; Hept.Epoxide – Heptachlor Epoxide
Figure 3
Figure 3
Correlogram for POPs. Non-significant correlation indicated by cross mark, positive correlation by blue solid circles and negative correlation by red solid circles
Figure 4
Figure 4
Trend plots for compounds showing significant correlation (a) Lindane (b) Dichlorvas (c) DDT (d) Dimethoate. (FBS – Fasting Blood Sugar)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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