We need to act NOW

Dr Alison Bleaney

Another link between persistent organic pollutants (POPs) including some pesticides, and disease – Type 2 diabetes – is detailed in the medical journal The Lancet this month ( Read HERE )

Dioxins, PCBs and PBDEs in particular, along with environmental oestrogens (such as atrazine) are immunotoxic, and can cause dysregulation of immune systems, i.e. increased rates of infections, cancers, auto-immune disease.

Diabetes can be classified as an auto-immune disease.

Tasmania’s State Health Report 2003 details:

• a prevalence of diabetes in Tasmania among the highest described internationally and higher than the Australian national average.

• the second lowest life expectancy compared with the national average – only the Northern Territory is higher.

• a significantly higher “ all causes of death” mortality rate (age standardised) compared with the national average.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)- Cancer Series No. 37 (2007):- (figures detailed are age standardised) ( www.aihw.gov.au Dr Alison Bleaney
St Helens