Metabolic syndrome is associated with exposure to organochlorine pesticides in Anniston, AL, United States

Abstract

The Anniston Community Health Survey, a cross-sectional study, was undertaken in 2005–2007 to study environmental exposure to polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and organochlorine (OC) pesticides and health outcomes among residents of Anniston, AL, United States. The examination of potential risks between these pollutants and metabolic syndrome, a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors (i.e., hypertension, central obesity, dyslipidemia and dysglycemia) was the focus of this analysis. Participants were 548 adults who completed the survey and a clinic visit, were free of diabetes, and had a serum sample for clinical laboratory parameters as well as PCB and OC pesticide concentrations. Associations between summed concentrations of 35 PCB congeners and 9 individual pesticides and metabolic syndrome were examined using generalized linear modeling and logistic regression; odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) are reported. Pollutants were evaluated as quintiles and as log transformations of continuous serum concentrations. Participants were mostly female (68%) with a mean age (SD) of 53.6 (16.2) years. The racial distribution was 56% white and 44% African American; 49% met the criteria for metabolic syndrome. In unadjusted logistic regression, statistically significant and positive associations across the majority of quintiles were noted for seven individually modeled pesticides (p,p′-DDT, p,p′-DDE, HCB, β-HCCH, oxychlor, tNONA, Mirex). Following adjustment for covariables (i.e., age, sex, race, education, marital status, current smoking, alcohol consumption, positive family history of diabetes or cardiovascular disease, liver disease, BMI), significant elevations in risk were noted for p,p′-DDT across multiple quintiles (range of ORs 1.61 to 2.36), for tNONA (range of ORs 1.62–2.80) and for p,p′-DDE [OR (95% CI)] of 2.73 (1.09–6.88) in the highest quintile relative to the first. Significant trends were observed in adjusted logistic models for log10 HCB [OR = 6.15 (1.66–22.88)], log10 oxychlor [OR = 2.09 (1.07–4.07)] and log10 tNONA [3.19 (1.45–7.00)]. Summed PCB concentrations were significantly and positively associated with metabolic syndrome only in unadjusted models; adjustment resulted in attenuation of the ORs in both the quintile and log-transformed models. In conclusion, several OC pesticides were found to have significant associations with metabolic syndrome in the Anniston study population while no association was observed for PCBs.

A Cross-Sectional Investigation of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Biomarkers among Conventional and Organic Farmers in Thailand

“…POP exposure may contribute to excess adiposity and other forms of metabolism dysfunction [31]. Organochlorine pesticide exposure was significantly associated with the risk of metabolic syndrome in the Anniston Health Study population, while no association was observed for PCBs [5]. …”

“…Nonetheless, the extensive use of pesticides globally has also triggered growing concerns regarding environmental impacts and adverse health effects [2,3,4]. Several organochlorine pesticides were associated with metabolic syndrome [5]. Approximately 105 pesticides have been identified as endocrine disruptors affecting the natural hormone balance in the human body [6].…”

“…Approximately 105 pesticides have been identified as endocrine disruptors affecting the natural hormone balance in the human body [6]. Accumulating evidence suggests that endocrine disrupting chemicals can contribute to the development of diverse chronic diseases, including metabolic disorders such as diabetes [5]. Thailand ranks fourth in annual pesticide consumption worldwide [7] and in 2017, Thailand imported 198,317 tons of pesticides, including 148,979 tons of herbicides, 21,601 tons of insecticides, and 19,923 tons of fungicides [8].…”

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) increase rage signaling to promote downstream cardiovascular remodeling

“…Epidemiological studies indicate exposure to certain organochlorine (OC) pesticides is positively associated with the development of insulin resistance, diabetes, and the metabolic syndrome . Animal studies have revealed that exposure to POPs in the presence of fatty fish oil led to the development of insulin resistance, abdominal obesity, and hepatosteatosis .…”

“…3 Epidemiological studies indicate exposure to certain organochlorine (OC) pesticides is positively associated with the development of insulin resistance, diabetes, and the metabolic syndrome. 4,5 Animal studies have revealed that exposure to POPs in the presence of fatty fish oil led to the development of insulin resistance, abdominal obesity, and hepatosteatosis. 6,7 The analysis of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2002 indicated that diabetic prevalence in individuals was strongly positively associated with concentrations of POPs serum concentrations, with OC pesticides being most strongly and consistently associated with the metabolic syndrome.…”