Living Near Toxic Waste Increases Risk for Diabetes

Living near toxic waste may make you diabetic, says a study. A study by Lawrence Lessner and colleagues at the University at Albany found that Americans who live near toxic waste sites are hospitalized more for diabetes than those who live in clean communities.

The researchers compared hospitalization rates by zip code for three types of communities: clean, without hazardous sites, contaminated by persistent organic pollutants and containing other types of waste or pollutants.

The study examined whites and blacks between the ages of 25 to 74, correcting for potential factors that could skew the data, such as age, race, sex and average household income.

Major types of organic pollutants are polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, a former industrial ingredient of pesticides, paints, paper and other products.

Possible mechanisms for the association with diabetes are unknown, although some speculate that PCBs may influence the retention of body fat, which is a risk factor for diabetes.

Although it is too early to draw conclusions about pollutants and diabetes, David Carpenter, director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University at Albany, said: ‘We should do whatever we can to reduce exposure to these compounds coming from waste sites.’

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