Diabetes due to fine dust

The fine dust of road traffic causes diabetes?

05/21/2012

The particulate matter pollution from road traffic could lead to a significant increase in the risk of diabetes, researchers reported at the Diabetes Congress 2012 in Stuttgart on Friday.

At the annual congress of the German Diabetes Association (DDG), experts presented the latest research findings in the field of diabetes. In addition to the established relationship between diabetes and depression, increasing the risk of diabetes from particulate matter on busy roads was one of the salient topics. Several studies indicate that the likelihood of diabetes is well above average near major roads.

Environmental factors and diabetes
Under the agenda item Environmental Factors and Diabetes, several speakers discussed the connection between particulate matter pollution and diabetes risk at the Diabetes Congress on Friday. In their short presentations of around twenty minutes each, the experts pointed to a study from the United States that found a 20 percent higher risk of type 2 diabetes for women living near a major road. A first German pilot study in the Ruhr Area would also have shown that people living near a busy street had more diabetes. In animal experiments with mice, it has also been shown that a permanent load of particulate matter leads to damage of the energy metabolism, which promotes the occurrence of insulin resistance or diabetes, according to the speakers at the Diabetes Congress.

Correlation between particulate matter pollution and diabetes
In general, according to the experts, it can be assumed that environmental pollution has a significant influence on the risk of diabetes. This applies to pesticides - with which people in Germany today come into contact only in relatively small doses thanks to tighter laws - but also for the fine dust of road traffic. Although the correlation between environmental factors and diabetes can not be precisely determined from previous studies, it can be seen that, at least for particulate matter, there is a striking correlation between the increase in particulate matter concentrations and the number of diabetes diseases in the immediate environment , the scientists reported at the DDG Annual Congress. Whether the particulate matter actually causes the diabetes diseases, however, can not be said exactly on the basis of previous investigations, said Michael Roden of the German Diabetes Center Dusseldorf in his presentation „Clinical relevance of environmental factors for prevention and care of type 2 diabetes“ and added: „Maybe this will create a new risk factor.“

Fine dust as a new diabetes risk factor?
To further investigate the impact of housing on the main roads on the risk of diabetes, further research is urgently needed, according to the experts at the Diabetes Congress. Although it is already apparent that the relationship between the risk of diabetes and particulate matter is also confirmed taking into account the known risk factors such as obesity, smoking or physical inactivity, an exact scientific assessment is still pending. It can also be assumed that the mentioned risk factors continue to play a significantly greater role in the development of diabetes than the pollution caused by the particulate matter of road traffic, according to experts. (Fp)

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Connection between depression and diabetes
Significant health risks due to particulate matter

Picture: Erich Westendarp