News from the Farm
Read the latest News From the Farm
Type 2 Diabetes May Be Linked to Pesticide Exposure
CAMBRIDGE, UK, January 25, 2008 (ENS) - Cambridge University scientists are advocating
more research into the possible links between environmental pollution and type
2 diabetes, the most common form of the disease. At least 171 million people worldwide
suffer from diabetes, according to estimates by the World Health Organization.
In today's edition of the British medical journal "Lancet," Drs.
Oliver Jones and Julian Griffin highlight the need to research the possible link
between persistent organic pollutants, POPs, and insulin resistance, which can
lead to adult onset diabetes.
POPs is a group of chemicals which includes
many pesticides such as dieldrin, DDT, toxaphene and chlordane and several industrial
chemical products or byproducts including polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs,
dioxins and furans.
In their commentary, Jones and Griffin cite peer reviewed
research which demonstrates a strong relationship between the levels of POPs in
blood, particularly organochlorine compounds, and the risk of type 2 diabetes.
"Of course correlation does not automatically imply causation,"
says Dr. Jones. “But if there is indeed a link, the health implications could
be tremendous."
"At present there is very limited information,"
he said. "Research into adult onset diabetes currently focuses on genetics
and obesity; there has been almost no consideration for the possible influence
of environmental factors such as pollution."
Pesticide is sprayed
on vegetables (Photo courtesy Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology,U.
North Carolina)
People with high levels of POPs in their blood are more likely
to develop insulin resistance, a precursor for type 2 diabetes, according to a
study by researchers in Korea that is cited by Jones and Griffin.
Previous
research by the same group found a link between POPs and type 2 diabetes. This
study confirms that background exposure to chemicals such as organochlorine pesticides
and PCBs is also associated with insulin resistance among people who do not yet
have diabetes.
The Korean scientists found that people were more at risk of
diabetes if they were thin with high levels of POPs in their blood than if they
were overweight but with low levels of POPs.
Dr. Jones said, "I think
research should be carried out to first test the hypothesis that POPs exposure
can cause diabetes, perhaps using cell or tissue cultures, so we know for sure
if this can occur."
"Assuming POPs can have this effect, the next
step would be to try and develop a method of treatment for those people who might
be affected," he said.
POPs came into prominence as effective pesticides
with the introduction of DDT in the 1940s. But many of these chemicals, including
DDT, fell out of favor after they were blamed for the declining number of wild
birds and other animals and the possible negative human health effects.
The
Stockholm Convention, an international treaty banning a dozen of the world's most
dangerous POPs that took effect in May 2004 has helped reduce exposures, but many
such chemicals remain in use and even those that have been banned may linger in
the environment for years.
Once released, POPs can travel long distances in
the atmosphere before they are deposited on land or in water. Humans can be exposed
to POPs through diet, occupational accidents and the environment.
As these
compounds biodegrade slowly, they continue to find their way into the food chain
and ultimately into the blood streams of individuals even though many of these
toxins were banned many years ago.
For example, chlordane was banned two decades
ago in the United States but continues to be present at high levels in the U.S.
food supply.
Because these compounds are fat soluble, they can persist in
body fat for very long periods of time following exposure.
It is well documented
that significant exposure to POPs can cause negative health effects. The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency states that the pesticide chlordane, for example,
can cause cancer, can lead to behavioral disorders in children if exposed before
birth or while nursing, and harms the endocrine system, nervous system, digestive
system, and liver.
But to date, the link between POPs and type 2 diabetes
has only been suggested, not confirmed.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common
form of diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough
of the hormone insulin or the cells ignore the insulin.
Insulin is necessary
for the body to be able to use glucose for energy. When people eat, the body breaks
down sugars and starches in the food into glucose, the basic fuel for the body's
cells.
Insulin carries the glucose from the blood into the cells. When glucose
builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, the cells may be starved for
energy. Over time, high blood glucose levels may damage the eyes, kidneys, nerves
or heart.
The article by Jones and Griffin, "Environmental pollution
and diabetes: A neglected relationship," appears in today's edition of the
"Lancet."
www.ens-newswire.com.
Food Irradiation
by James Powell
Food irradiation is a sensitive topic and is again at the forefront of the Canadian food safety debate after the federal government proposed on November 23, 2002 to expand its irradiation program to include beef, poultry, shrimp and mangoes. The legislation is part of Canada's drive to harmonize its food safety policies with those of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures agreement (SPS Agreement) of World Trade Organization (WTO). The International Consultative Group on Food Irradiation (ICGFI), a UN mandated body established by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is responsible for bringing all WTO member nations into compliance with the SPS agreement by homogenizing all member nations' (134 in total) food safety policies.
Food irradiation is not at all new to Canada though. Irradiation of wheat and flour has been legal since 1969 with spices, herbs, potatoes and onions joining the list in subsequent years. The process of irradiation occurs in designated nuclear facilities where food is put into a sealed chamber and bombarded by gamma radiation from either Cobalt-60 or Cesium-137. Irradiated meat is exposed to 300,000 cGy's; the equivalent of having approximately 3 Million X-Rays taken. Doses for non-meat products are lower but still substantial.
Although it is undeniable that gamma radiation kills the vast majority of bacteria that inhabit food there are many other less appealing effects of irradiation. Among the undesirable effects is the creation of chemical by-products called "unique radiolytic products" (URP's). Some scientific studies carried out on URP's link serious health risks with the consumption of irradiated foods. Irradiated foods are also less nutritious than fresh foods because radiation damages some vitamins, amino acids and fatty acids. Given, normal cooking methods and storage of foods will also cause nutritional losses, but irradiation in addition to cooking and storage decreases the nutritional value even further. Moreover, Irradiation has been falsely hailed as an alternative to pesticides. Irradiation may replace some post-harvest pesticides but pesticides will still be used extensively in conventional fields. Studies have not been done to determine the consequences of irradiating the pesticide residues commonly found in conventional foods.
Finally, Irradiation does not address the root of the problem. If food were grown, harvested, and processed in a more sound manner, it wouldn't have to be exposed to radiation to destroy the dubious organisms that infest ill cared for food.
Gift Baskets
Fruit basket. Price to be determined by size. Due to the season, contents would be most likely consist of kiwis, bananas, oranges, apples, grapefruit, pears and pomegranates.
A "Cheeselovers" basket. Price to be determined by size. Would consist of a varitey of cheeses, olives, antipasto, crackers, etc.
A Coffee/Tea basket. An assortment and some goodies, ie. candies, cookies etc.
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