We hear about how environmental toxins may contribute to cancer, Parkinsons‘s or Alzheimer‘s. A recent study published in Diabetes Care, July issue, found that there is a link between persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and diabetes. POPs includes pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Concerns about the toxicity of PCBs are largely based on compounds within this group can act as endocrine disruptor. PCB are commonly found in coolant fluids, carbon paper and heat transfer fluids. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) resist biodegradation and are ubiquitous in the environment and food chain. This study showed that POPs in human serum and adipose tissue are significantly correlated with glucose levels. Individuals who were obese had higher levels of POPs than normal-weight individuals. The study is also built on a previous study in Sweden which found that elevated levels of POPs predicted the development of type 2 diabetes. In other words, exposure to endocrine-disrupting POPs may be contributing to the pandemic of both type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity, in addition to our overweight eating and poor diet.

In this industrialized world, simply watching what we eat is not sufficient to avoid some of these chronic diseases. We also need to minimize toxicity build up by regular detoxification and also minimize toxicity pouring into our environment by being socially responsible as well.