Persistent organic pollutants and type 2 diabetes mellitus

This study quantified the associations between plasma concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POP) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in cycle 1 (2007-2009) of the Canadian Health Measures Survey, a cross-sectional sample representative of 96% of Canadians. The sample included 1,612 participants aged 20 to 79. The analyses include nineteen POPs detectable in at least 60% of plasma samples. After adjusting for obesity, body mass index, daily leisure energy expenditure and age, a significant (p<0.05) association was observed with polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners 153, 170, 180, and with organochlorine pesticides including β-hexachlorocyclohexane, and hexachlorobenzene. The summed measures of non-dioxin-like PCBs, and PCB 1260 (Aroclor) were also significantly associated with T2D. The summed plasma levels did not interact with the association of obesity and T2D. Exposure to these POPs should be considered when assessing risk factors for and policies to reduce, T2D and potentially other chronic diseases