Cancer clusters

Dr Frank Nicklason

Possible cancer clusters, with chemical pollution and electromagnetic radiation mooted as culprits, have been discussed in the media recently.

The respected British publication New Scientist (15/9/08) presented evidence that type 2 diabetes may be associated with contamination with persistent organic pollutants (POPs).

POPs are able to enter the food chain from chemical manufacturing, pesticides and incinerated waste.They are difficult to avoid as they accumulate in animals higher up the food chain and are thus often found in fish, meat and dairy products.

Current understanding is that obesity is a major contributor diabetes type 2 risk.

Korean researcher Duk-Hee Lee found that in people with very low levels of POPs the expected link betweeen body weight and diabetes vanished – those who were obese were no more likely to have diabetes than the lean.

Obesity is still risky as Lee’s study shows that with high levels of POPs the odds of being diabetic were much higher for the obese as compared to the lean.

A reviewer stated that these results, whilst not conclusive, showed that the subject deserves further research.

In the meantime a strongly proactive precautionary approach seems best.

Dr Frank Nicklason

West Hobart