According to a new research done by Washington University School of Medicine and the Veterans Affairs (VA) St. Louis Health Care System, air pollution could be the reason behind of the ever-increasing rates of diabetes globally. Researchers found that not only in highly polluted countries like India but even in countries like USA, which is not quite polluted, improved air quality will lead to a significant drop in the number of people suffering with diabetes would significantly drop. The research proves that regulatory authorities need to be taking even lower pollution threats seriously and working to provide a better solution.Ziyad Al-Aly, senior author of the study and assistant professor of medicine at Washington University said, “Our research shows a significant link between air pollution and diabetes globally. We found an increased risk, even at low levels of air pollution currently considered safe by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the World Health Organization (WHO). This is important because many industry lobbying groups argue that current levels are too stringent and should be relaxed. Evidence shows that current levels are still not sufficiently safe and need to be tightened.” The study was published recently in The Lancet Planetary Health. For the study, the researchers focused on various pollution causing elements like particulate matter, dirt, smoke and soot etc. They suggest that air pollution lowers the production of insulin and triggers inflammation.
The researchers that every year almost 14 percent of all cases of diabetes are caused by the pollution. The researchers stressed on the fact that the risk of developing diabetes is significantly higher in lower-income countries like India- where air pollution levels are extremely high and the air quality poor. Such countries like Afghanistan, Guyana amongst others lack resources for making the environment cleaner-had a significant number of pollution-diabetes patients but for countries like France, Finland etc. on the other hand, the number was quite small. Philip J. Landrigan, pediatrician, epidemiologist and dean for global health at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, said,”The team in St. Louis is doing important research to firm up links between pollution and health conditions such as diabetes. I believe their research will have a significant global impact.”