Daily chemical exposure adds to obesity and diabetes risk

A scientific review of more than 240 papers published by CHEM Trust provides new urgency for banning certain chemicals to protect health. “Review of the Science Linking Chemical Exposures to the Human Risk of Obesity and Diabetes” was undertaken by two of the world’s leading epidemiology researchers, Professor Miquel Porta of the Medical School of Barcelona University (Spain) and Professor Duk-Hee Lee of the School of Medicine of the Kyungpook University (South Korea). It summarises recent laboratory investigations and community-based studies linking increasing incidence of obesity and diabetes with exposure to certain common chemicals.

This review provides a strong incentive to minimise human exposure to all relevant hormone disruptors. This is especially important for women planning pregnancy as it appears to be the foetus developing in utero that is at greatest risk. The human population is exposed to these suspect chemicals on an everyday basis, mostly via food and consumer products. Some of the chemicals identified as suspects have already been banned, such as DDT and PCBs, but others are still on the market, such as Bisphenol A and brominated flame retardants.

The full PDF “Review of the Science Linking Chemical Exposures to the Human Risk of Obesity and Diabetes” report can be found here. The correspondent Executive Summary & Conclusions and leaflets can be also downloaded here.