Biomarkers of pesticide exposure and diabetes in the 1999–2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

• Published in: Environment international 2010-05, Vol.36 (4), p.398-401
• Main Authors: Everett, Charles J., Matheson, Eric M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adjustment; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers; Diabetes; Diabetes Mellitus - epidemiology; Diabetes Mellitus - etiology; Elevated; Environmental Exposure - analysis; Humans; Lipids; Logistics; Medical sciences; Metabolites; Nutrition; Nutrition Surveys; Pesticides; Pesticides - toxicity; Pesticides, fertilizers and other agrochemicals toxicology; Toxicology; United States
• ISSN: 0160-4120; 1873-6750
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2010.02.010

The associations of 8 pesticides and pesticide metabolites with total diabetes (diagnosed and undiagnosed) and pre-diabetes (glycohemoglobin 5.7–6.4%) were evaluated using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 1999–2004. Six of the pesticides were found to be associated with total diabetes in separate adjusted logistic regressions. These pesticides and pesticide metabolites were beta-hexachlorocyclohexane, p,p′-DDE, p,p′-DDT, oxychlordane, trans-nonachlor, and heptachlor epoxide. When the number of compounds elevated was tested, 4 or more, of the 6, elevated had an odds ratio of 4.99 (95% CI 1.97–12.61) compared to none elevated. When the 6 compounds were tested together in a single combined adjusted logistic regression only oxychlordane, a metabolite of chlordane, and heptachlor epoxide, a metabolite of heptachlor, were significantly associated with total diabetes. In the combined adjusted logistic regression, oxychlordane ≥14.5ng/g lipid adjusted had an odds ratios of 1.90 (95% CI 1.09–3.32) compared to oxychlordane