This next study may encourage you to pack your bags if you live in a home built before 1990. Researchers from four separate colleges around the world followed 90 healthy non-diabetic young adults for 23 years. The results concluded that people whose bodies had higher levels of the banned pesticide chlordane and chemical known as PCB had what is called reduced insulin sensitivity. This means their bodies are not able to use insulin properly. Both the pesticide chlordane and the chemical PCB's are found in the indoor air of older homes in higher concenrations because of their common use before the 1980's. PCB's were used in caulking and varnishes of older homes and chlordane was the termite pesticide of choice during that era. PCB's are also formed as an unintentional by-product during the chemical formulation of house paints today and found to be at highest levels in yellow paints.

The majority of medical studies discussed in this book show increased diabetes rates of 30% - 50% and even several hundred percent after exposure to one or several chemicals in a particular consumer product. In this study from the University of Minnesota and Kyungpook University in Korea, researchers decided to investigate the effects of chemicals in combination that are also known to have diabetes promoting effects individually. This type of study design represents more closely to what all of us experience daily.

Using blood samples from 2,016 adults from the 1999-2002 National Health and Examination Survey, researchers looked for the presence of six different chemicals. Scientists wanted to determine if people with higher levels of these chemicals had higher rates of diabetes. Chemicals tested included the food and termite pesticide chlordane, the electronic and construction chemical PCB's (used in caulking and paint of older homes), the food pesticide DDE (in non-organic foods imported from South America), and several types of Dioxin (found in vehicle exhaust, trash burning and some pesticides). The chemicals were selected because they are commonly found in 80% of the population.

Scientists measured the levels of these six chemicals in each person's blood and then added them together to give a total chemical exposure dose. Results for the total chemical dose in these 2,016 adults were then divided into five separate groups - starting with the lower exposure group (for people with the lowest levels of total exposure dose) and gradually increased for groups with higher total levels of the 6 chemicals. Results were divided along percentiles - 25th, 50th, 75th and 90th percentiles.

When comparing diabetes rates in each group, it was found that people in Group 2 (25th to 49th percentile) had an astounding 14 times higher rate of diabetes than those in the lowest Group 1. Continuing this further, those in the highest chemical exposure Group 5 (those above the 90th percentile) had a 37.7 higher rate of diabetes than Group 1. The dramatically increased rates of diabetes for people with higher levels of these chemicals is unprecedented and points the finger straight to what is causing the massive increase in diabetes we are seeing today. In conclusion, the researchers stated,

Because of the importance and magnitude of these findings, it is important to discuss not just the names of chemicals increasing diabetes rates, but also, what consumer products and situations where you could be exposed to these chemical combinations. Although you won't find this information in the current study, we've done the homework for you. Below shows the chemicals found to increase diabetes 38 fold and where your highest sources of exposure.

1. PESTICIDE CHLORDANE
(Main Source: Older homes & non-organic food)
Chlordane was routinely used as a termite treatment chemcal in foundations of homes built before 1989. It was banned because it was found to enter the interior air breathing space decades after application and was linked to many health problems and cancer. The problem is worse in homes built before 1980 in which it was also used inside homes for the treatment of roaches, ants, etc.

2. PCB's
(Main Source: Older homes built before 1980)
Used in older power transformers seen on telephone polls as a cooling liquid, it was also used extensively in caulking, paint and varnishes of older homes built in the 60's and 70's. Small, but toxic levels continue to be emitted into the air of older homes which can be inhaled by occupants and gradually build up to higher levels over the years in the person's fat tissue.

3. DIOXIN
(Main Source: Vehicle Exhaust - Waste Incineration - Trash Burning - Charcoal Grills)
Formed as a by-product when making some pesticides, dioxin is also formed during vehicle engine combustion and then inhaled by people driving on highways or those living near roadways. High levels of dioxin are also formed from waste incinerators and when homeowners burn trash containing plastics, chlorinated white paper and colored ink magazine paper. Very high levels of the most toxic forms of dioxin are formed when burning rubber insulation covering metal wires.

4. DDE
(Main Source: Pesticides in food)
The chemical DDE is the main breakdown compound of the pesticide DDT. Although DDT was banned in the U.S. decades ago, the general population still gets exposed to it in several ways. It is formed as a by-product in the manufacture of the pesticide known as dicofol. Other main routes of exposure come from non-organic food imported into the U.S. from countries in South America. For example, when South American farms use DDT, it soon breaks down to DDE. Foods with DDE are then exported into the U.S., (especially during the winter) and the chemical is then ingested by the consumers in the U.S., Europe and other countries. DDE is a chlorinated fat soluble chemical which leads to higher and higher levels of this chemical in your body as long as you continue to eat non-organic food. Why DDT is banned in the U.S. but allowed to be sprayed on food in other countries and then imported back to the U.S. is a scratch your head type question, so you need to ask your congressman about that one...). One way to quickly reduce DDE levels in your body is to consume only organic foods which are grown without pesticides. Doing this should help reduce your risk of diabetes since people with lower levels of DDE have significantly lower rates of diabetes. As most of these chemicals are more common in older homes, it generates an additional chemical burden for people living in poverty who typically reside in older dwellings. Families with reduced income are also more inclined to burn household garbage rather than pay for municipal trash removal services, thereby further increasing exposure to dioxin compounds. Another observation from the study was that the older the person, the higher the levels of chemicals. This should be expected as more exposure over time would increase the body burden of these chemicals.

DDT is a pesticide that was banned in the U.S. in 1972, but is still used in agriculture settings in South America and in Africa for mosquito control. During the winter in the United States, upwards of 30% of produce is imported from South America and other countries is frequently found as a contaiminant in different food crops in grocery stores (i.e. lettuce). Along with DDT being used in foreign countries who send food crops back to the U.S., DDT is also a comtaminant in the U.S. pesticide dicofol (kelthane). So while DDT itself is banned in the U.S., it still can be applied to U.S. crops through the pesticide dicofol (especially cotton and citrus). Once DDT is applied, it forms the metabolite DDE. In this study, 619 sport fish consumers agreed to donate a blood sample in 1994-1995 and 209 participants donated again in 2001-2003. Health information was collected from each group. In total, 293 people from the original blood collection in 1994-95 provided a second sample for analysis in 2001-2005. Blood was tested for the pesticide DDE and PCB's. Participants who were without diagnosed diabetes in 1994-95 were followed for incident diabetes for an average of 8.4 years. Participants were then put into 3 groups of low, medium and high blood levels of DDE. Results showed a consistent dose-related association of DDE with incident diabetes. CHEM-TOX NOTE: We did a study in 1990's at the Florida Department of Agriculture in Tallahassee, Florida showing 19% of commercially grown lettuce tested in supermarkets contained the pesticide DDE. DDE is not found in significant amounts in organically grown produce.

PCB is the abbreviation for the chemical polychlorinated biphenyls. It was well known for its use as a coolant in electrical transformers commonly seen on neighborhood telephone polls prior to 1980. What is not commonly known is that It was also used as a thickening agent in some paints, floor varnishes and caulking used in home construction. Some homes and schools built before 1980 have been found to have high levels of PCB's - some of which had to be demolished because of PCB levels. A severe outbreak of PCB poisoning affected thousands of Taiwanese people in the late 1970's. In a 24 year follow-up, researchers studied 1,054 of these victims for rates of diabetes. After adjusting for factors such as cigarette smoking, alcohol intake and BMI, it was found that women who had been exposed to the higher levels of PCB's had diabetes rates 5.5 times higher than people not exposed to PCB's.

BACKGROUND: When testing the blood of people in most countries today - nearly everyone has measureable levels of the chemicals DIOXIN, PCB's and the pesticide DDT. Although PCB's and DDT have been banned in the U.S., higher blood levels of these chemicals can sometimes be found in people living in older homes built prior to 1990. DDT exposure can occur to people consuming foods imported from countries still using DDT (i.e. South America) and also from the pesticide Kelthane (which contains up to 5% DDT). Exposure to DIOXIN occurs from vehicle exhaust, burning of plastics, rubber and colored paper in trash and as an unintentional by-product in the manufacture of some pesticides used in agriculture and on lawns. In this study, conducted at the Medical University of South Carolina, researchers measured levels of these 3 chemicals in more than 1,800 people enrolled in the 1999-2002 National Health & Nutrition Examination Survey. Relationships of chemical exposure was then investigated for people with diagnosed diabetes, undiagnosed diabetes (HbA1c more than or equal to 6.1%) and total diabetes (diagnosed plus undiagnosed). Results showed that people with higher levels all three chemicals had significantly increased rates of diagnosed diabetes. In conclusion, the researchers stated,

In a moment, you'll read how the pesticide chlordane is being linked to causing diabetes, however, it is important to first understand that the majority of homes built before 1980 contain considerably higher air levels of this banned pesticide. The problem is even worse in homes built before 1979 when chlordane was used in routine indoor pest control. Unlike most pesticides today, chlordane does not break-down easily and continues to evaporate into the indoor air of older homes. The chemical heptachlor is commonly found as part of chlordane.

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. 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 ≥ 14.5 ng/g lipid adjusted had an odds ratios of 1.90 (95% CI 1.09–3.32) compared to oxychlordane 14.5 ng/g lipid adjusted, and heptachlor epoxide ≥ 14.6 ng/g lipid adjusted had an odds ratio of 1.70 (95% CI 1.16–2.49) compared to heptachlor epoxide 14.6 ng/g lipid adjusted. Heptachlor epoxide and p,p′-DDT were significantly associated with pre-diabetes in separate adjusted logistic regressions. When these 2 compounds were tested together only heptachlor epoxide remained significantly associated with pre-diabetes. The evidence supporting the relationship between pesticides and pesticide metabolites, with diabetes, was strongest for heptachlor epoxide and oxychlordane, intermediate for p,p′-DDT, and least for beta-hexachlorocyclohexane, p,p′-DDE, and trans-nonachlor. Mirex and dieldrin were not associated with total diabetes or pre-diabetes.

The people of Saudi Arabia have one of the highest rates of diabetes in the world with over 30% of the adult population afflicted in 2010. With diabetes doubling every 12-15 years, along with the fact that their diabetes rates are already twice as high as the U.S., they are on an accelerated time-table for trying to figure this thing out. Unlike other pesticides that are typically applied away from the average person, pesticides used for lice are applied directly to a person's head and also applied to pets in shampoos and other forms as a flea and tick treatment. The extended time in treating a person or pet can expose the person running the operation to elevated levels of the chemical.

In this study, conducted at the College of Applied Medical Sciences in Saudi Arabia, researchers collected blood samples from 280 adults. About half had type-2 diabetes and the other half were healthy people without diabetes. Results were quite dramatic - Looking first at the 144 people without diabetes, it was found their average blood levels of the chemical was 3.8, while the average levels for those with diabetes was 8.8. To put this another way, the 136 people with diabetes had twice the amount of the chemical floating in their blood as the people who did not have diabetes.

It should be mentioned that the chemical Lindane was in the past used on farms and in lice and pet, flea and tick treatments. However, because of its high toxicity, many countries have banned it entirely. While it is banned in the U.S. for use on pets, seeds and farming, it is still used in many other countries and can still be used in the United States but only as a second alternative for head lice removal if the first methods fail.

Dichlorophenol (DCP for short) is a chemical used in common weed killers and disinfectants in hospitals, schools and homes. Exposure can also occur from drinking or showering with city water where chlorine is used for disinfection. To determine if the chemical was linked to diabetes, researchers at Mercer University Medical School in Macon, Georgia measured DCP levels in 560 adults with diabetes and 2,503 adults without diabetes. People were then divided into four equal groups from low to high depending on their level of DCP. After adjusting for age, weight, smoking and other factors, they found that people in the highest DCP group had a 59% higher rate of diabetes than those in the lower DCP group. They also found what is called a dose-response effect in that diabetes rates increased in four groups as DCP levels increased. the higher DCP group had significantly higher rates of insulin resistance. In conclusion, the scientists stated,

Fascinating study in which 90 healthy non-diabetic young adults were followed for 23 years to to see who got diabetes later in life. Blood samples of the 90 individuals were tested in the mid-1980's (before beginning the study) for what is called "persistent organic pollutants" (We'll call it POP for short.) POPs are chemicals that typically do not break down easily and remain toxic for many decades. There were 55 different POP chemicals tested including organochlorine pesticides - chemicals used as flame retardants and chemicals known as PCB's. PCB's were used as a thickening agent in construction materials such as caulking, varnishes and paints in homes built in the 60's and 70's. In fact, organochlorine pesticides and PCB's are typically found at much higher concentrations in homes built before 1989 than homes built after this date. This is because some of the most toxic POPs were banned in 1980 and 1989. Results of this study found that people who had higher levels of organochlorine pesticides and PCB's in early adulthood had significantly decreased insulin sensitivity after they reached 40 years of age. In conclusion, the researchers stated,

In a review of studies done on more than 80,000 individuals, it was found that exposure to any pesticide increases the risk of diabetes by nearly 61%. The lead author of the study, Dr. Fotinia Kavvoura, MD, PhD, presented this information at the 2015 annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD). Dr. Kavvoura stated the study was done to understand what has been causing the exponential increase in type 2 diabetes in recent years. Along with these conclusions, it was also reported that women exposed to organic pollutants in early pregnancy had a fourfold increased risk of gestational diabetes compared with those who were not exposed to the chemicals. Organic pollutants include chemicals such as PCBs and are found in the air of older homes because of extensive use in caulking, floor varnishes and some paints.

Rates of diabetes and pre-diabetes were 11 times higher in 116 men employed as pesticide sprayers in public mosquito vector control programs in Bolivia. The rate of diabetes and prediabetes was 61% among men employed to spray pesticides and only 8% among 92 non-exposed controls of the same age. A dose-response relationship was also found showing that pesticide applicators reporting the highest number of hours spraying had diabetes and prediabetes rates 14x greater.

33,457 white males were enrolled in the Agricultural Health Study. Rates of diabetes were determined when beginning the study and again 5 years later in a follow-up interview. Workers reported types of pesticides used and how often. Seven pesticides were associated with increased risk of diabetes including aldrin, chlordane, heptachlor, dichlorvos (Naled), trichlorfon, alachlor and cyanazine). The odds of getting diabetes increased with using the pesticide only once and became higher with cumulative days of use. For example, applicators with more than 100 lifetime day use of the pesticide aldrin had a 51% increase odds of diabetes - those using chlordane had a 63% increased risk - and those using heptachlor had a 94% increased risk of diabetes. Increased risk of diabetes was also seen among organophosphate pesticides such as the agriculture and mosquito control pesticide dichlorvos (a break-down product of Naled). We found that applicators exposed to dichlorvos had an increased odds of diabetes and that the odds increased with increasing cumulative days of use, although the test for trend was only moderately significant. Furthermore, the pesticide most strongly associated with diabetes among applicators was the organophosphate insecticide trichlorfon, which is converted to dichlorvos in mammals (see study).

Research summary to be added here.