Link Between Car Exhaust & Diabetes?
Long-term exposure to the inflammatory pollutants from automobile traffic may be a risk factor for development of Type II diabetes later in life. A handful of past studies have suggested some potential link between inflammation from vehicle pollution and diabetes and cardiovascular risk. But German research on middle-aged women, released in 2010 in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, was the first to follow subjects over many years and – although not substantially proving a cause-and-effect relationship – adds weight to the overall evidence.
The study suggested that the risk of diabetes might increase by 15-42% for every 25% increase in traffic exposure. The greatest risk stemmed from nitrogen dioxide, a major byproduct of car exhaust. The mechanism for pollution’s effect on disease risk may involve one of two effects: the pollutant could contribute to disease by stimulating an inflammatory response in the body; or those who already have high levels of inflammation may be unable to handle the effects of pollution. The linkage between pollution, inflammation and diabetes is unclear. Further study is needed to pinpoint this mechanism and to determine whether the link holds true for men and children as well.
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