Investigating the Link Between Organochlorine Pesticides and Type 1 Diabetes in Children and Adolescents: A Case-Control Study

Previous evidence suggests that exposure to organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) may contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes.

The relationship between OCPs and type 1 diabetes (T1D) in children and adolescents is not well understood. We aimed to explore the association between organochlorine pesticide levels and T1D in this population.

In this case-control study, we included 147 newly diagnosed T1D cases and 147 healthy controls. Spot urine samples were collected from children under 15 years old in both groups to measure organochlorine pesticide levels. We analyzed six OCPs: β-HCH, heptachlor, aldrin, heptachloro epoxy, α-endosulfan, and p,p'-DDD, categorizing them into tertiles. We examined the relationship between urinary OCP levels and T1D, adjusting for age, sex, duration of breastfeeding, Body mass index (BMI), family history of diabetes, and five dietary patterns.

The average urinary concentration of p,p'-DDD was significantly higher in cases than in controls (0.15 (0.07 - 0.3) vs. 0.09 (0.04 - 0.2) μg/g creatinine, P < 0.001). After adjustments for age, sex, breastfeeding duration, BMI, family history of diabetes, and dietary patterns, a significantly positive association was observed between the highest levels of p,p'-DDD, and T1D (odds ratio (OR) = 4.9; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2 - 12.3). Additionally, participants in the middle tertile of urinary β-BHC had a higher OR for diabetes compared to those in the lowest tertile (OR = 2.9; 95% CI: 1.2 - 6.8). No association was found between other OCPs and T1D.

These findings highlight a potential role for p,p'-DDD, and β-BHC in the development of T1D, urging further investigation into the mechanisms of this association and potential preventive strategies in this area.