Diabetes Prevalence in Relation to Serum Concentrations of Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Congener Groups and Three Chlorinated Pesticides in a Native American Population

Abstract

Background:Exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) is known to increase risk of diabetes.Objective:To determine which POPs are most associated with prevalence of diabetes in 601 Akwesasne Native Americans.Methods:Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess associations between quartiles of concentrations of 101 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) congeners, congener groups and three chlorinated pesticides [dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and mirex] with diabetes. In Model 1, the relationship between quartiles of exposure and diabetes were adjusted only for sex, age, body mass index (BMI), and total serum lipids. Model 2 included additional adjustment for either total PCBs or total pesticides.Results:Total serum PCB and pesticide concentrations were each significantly associated with prevalence of diabetes when adjusted only for covariates (Model 1), but neither showed a significant OR for highest to lowest quartiles after additional adjustment for the other (Model 2). When applying Model 2 to PCB congener groups and individual pesticides, there were significant omnibus differences between the four quartiles (all ps < 0.042) for most groups, with the exception of penta- and hexachlorobiphenyls, DDE and mirex. However, when comparing highest to lowest quartiles only non- and mono-ortho PCBs [OR = 4.55 (95% CI: 1.48, 13.95)], tri- and tetrachloro PCBs [OR = 3.66 (95% CI: 1.37, –9.78)] and HCB [OR = 2.64 (95% CI: 1.05, 6.61)] showed significant associations with diabetes. Among the non- and mono-ortho congeners, highest to lowest quartile of dioxin TEQs was not significant [OR = 1.82 (95% CI: 0.61, 5.40)] but the OR for the non-dioxin-like congeners was [OR = 5.01 (95% CI: 1.76, 14.24)].Conclusion:The associations with diabetes after adjustment for other POPs were strongest with the more volatile, non-dioxin-like, low-chlorinated PCB congeners and HCB. Because low-chlorinated congeners are more volatile, these observations suggest that inhalation of vapor-phase PCBs is an important route of exposure.Citation:Aminov Z, Haase R, Rej R, Schymura MJ, Santiago-Rivera A, Morse G, DeCaprio A, Carpenter DO, and the Akwesasne Task Force on the Environment. 2016. Diabetes prevalence in relation to serum concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congener groups and three chlorinated pesticides in a Native American population. Environ Health Perspect 124:1376–1383; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1509902

The Relationship between Persistent Organic Pollutants Exposure and Type 2 Diabetes among First Nations in Ontario and Manitoba, Canada: A Difference in Difference Analysis

“…Our findings on the positive relationships between POPs and T2D are consistent with a number of previous cross-sectional studies [ 10 , 11 , 13 , 15 , 35 , 42 ]. Lee et al found a strong dose–response relationship between serum concentrations of six POPs, including DDE and PCBs, and T2D in a study among the US general population [ 45 ].…”

“…However, other potential risk factors such as an exposure to environmental contaminants may also contribute to the high rates of T2D [ 6 ]. Epidemiological studies have confirmed positive associations between exposure to certain persistent organic pollutants (POPs) including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), and T2D in general [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ] and among Indigenous populations [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ]. First Nations were reported to be exposed to higher levels of PCBs and DDE compared to the general Canadian population through traditional food, in particular, fish consumption [ 19 ].…”

Recent decreasing trends of exposure to PCDDs/PCDFs/dioxin‐like PCBs in general populations, and associations with diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and gout/hyperuricemia

“…In a study by Everett et al (26), total TEQ, as well as individual dioxin isomers such as 1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDD, OCDD, 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF, PCB169, 118, and 156, were significantly associated with increased OR of DM, among participants of the 1999 -2004 NHANES. Aminov et al (27) reported that the linear trend for the association between DL-PCBs TEQ (sum of 6 isomers) and prevalent diabetes was significant (P = 0.010) among 601 native Americans, after adjustment for the concentrations of three organochlorine (OC) pesticides.…”

The Value of Traditional Ecological Knowledge for the Environmental Health Sciences and Biomedical Research

“…These projects involved qualitative research (i.e., interviewing elders and their families in the Mohawk community of Akwesasne) about environmental impacts and the translation of these data to develop a culturally specific, integrated model of environmental health, risk, and restoration ( Arquette et al 2002 ). The Akwesasne Task Force on the Environment continues to explore the impact of PCBs on tribal health and has identified attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and diabetes as additional health outcomes from this exposure ( Newman et al 2014 ; Aminov et al 2016 ).…”