Exposure to persistent organochlorine pollutants and type 2 diabetes mellitus

Persistent organochlorine pollutants (POPs), such aspolychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dichloro diphenyl trichloroethane (DDT) and its major metabolite 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl)-ethylene (p,p'-DDE) have been associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in recent epidemiological studies. We have analysed 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (CB-153) and p,p'-DDE in 544 serum-samples from Swedish women with a median age of 50 years. The participants were asked if they had diabetesand if so, what type of diabetes, years since diagnosis and what kind of treatment they had. Associations between exposure and T2DM were analysed by logistic regression. Moreover, trends of T2DM prevalence were tested with Jonckheere-Terpstra' test. Sixteen of the 544 women (3%) had diabetes, of which15 were classified as T2DM. There was a significant associationwith T2DM for both CB-153 (an increase of 100ng/glipid corresponded to an odds ratio [OR] of 1. 6, 95% confidenceinterval [CI] 1. 0, 2. 7) and p,p9-DDE (OR 1. 3, 95%CI 1. 1, 1. 6). In addition, significant positive trends betweenquartiles of CB-153 and T2DM (P 5 0. 004) and p,p9-DDEand T2DM (P 5 0. 002) were observed. The study showsan association between POP serum concentrations andan increased prevalence of T2DM.