The Content of Elements in Rainwater and its Relation to the Frequency of Hospitalization for Diabetes and Obesity in Opole Voivodship, Poland, During 2000–2002

Abstract

Environmental factors significantly influence the incidence and course of metabolic syndrome diseases such as diabetes and obesity. The content of elements in rainwater is an indirect indicator of their presence in dust suspended in the air. In this paper we present the relationships between the content of selected elements in rainwater and hospitalization frequencies due to diabetes (E10-E13) and obesity (E66). It was assumed that the hospitalization frequency could be taken as a measure of deterioration of the metabolic process in the course of diabetes and its complications. The observations concerned the population of Opole Voivodeship, Poland (one million inhabitants), distributed in small communities of 44,000 to 151,000 inhabitants during the years 2000-2002. In cases of diabetes E10-E13 for all subjects relevant correlation indicators were found for chromium (r = 0.71), cadmium (r = 0.65), and lead (r = 0.66). Borderline relevance was seen for copper (r = 0.57) and zinc (r = 056). For diabetic men the statistically relevant correlations were chromium (r = 0.79), lead (r = 0.77), cadmium (r = 0.74), copper (r = 0.70), chloride (r = 0.69), zinc (r = 0.68), and iron (r = 0.64). For women the only relevant correlations were chromium (r = 0.62) and cadmium (r = 0.55). No significant correlations were found in obese individuals of both sexes.

Mortality Among Population With Exposure to Industrial Air Pollution Containing Nickel and Other Toxic Metals

“…[15][16][17][18] Exposure to other toxic metals (eg, arsenic and cadmium) either via inhalation or ingestion may increase the risk of diabetes mellitus. 20,21 Some recent epidemiological studies 19,40 and toxicological evidence on the effects of fine PM on insulin resistance, adipose inflammation, and visceral adiposity 20 suggest a role for air pollution in increasing the prevalence of diabetes in the industrialized world. Although the numbers of observed deaths from diabetes in Harjavalta were small, it cannot be ruled out that the high-level environmental exposure to toxic metals had a role in this mortality.…”

Atmospheric Pollution Monitoring by Water Rain Analysis

“…showed that there was an increase in the frequency of hospitalization caused by the deterioration of the endocrine system of the population of Opole Voivodeship (province in Poland with a population of one million) from 2000 to 2002. In the case of diabetes-related syndromes, there was a strong correlation between the presence of chromium, cadmium, lead and zinc in men and women [12].…”