OBJECTIVE -Low-level exposure to some persistent organic pollutants (POPs) has recently become a focus because of their possible link with the risk of diabetes.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS -Cross-sectional associations of the serum concentrations of POPs with diabetes prevalence were investigated in 2,016 adult participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999 -2002. Six POPs (2,2Ј,4,4Ј,5,5Ј-hexachlorobiphenyl, 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-heptachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, oxychlordane, p,pЈ-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, and trans-nonachlor) were selected, because they were detectable in Ն80% of participants.RESULTS -Compared with subjects with serum concentrations below the limit of detection, after adjustment for age, sex, race and ethnicity, poverty income ratio, BMI, and waist circumference, diabetes prevalence was strongly positively associated with lipid-adjusted serum concentrations of all six POPs. When the participants were classified according to the sum of category numbers of the six POPs, adjusted odds ratios were 1.0, 14.0, 14.7, 38.3, and 37.7 (P for trend Ͻ 0.001). The association was consistent in stratified analyses and stronger in younger participants, Mexican Americans, and obese individuals.CONCLUSIONS -There were striking dose-response relations between serum concentrations of six selected POPs and the prevalence of diabetes. The strong graded association could offer a compelling challenge to future epidemiologic and toxicological research. Diabetes Care 29:1638 -1644, 2006P ersistent organic pollutants (POPs) have become widespread environmental contaminants and now represent a global problem (1). The toxicity of these pollutants in humans and wildlife is enhanced by their persistence in the environment and their bioaccumulation potential in the tissues of animals and humans through the food chain (1). POPs include a variety of man-made chemicals. Some POPs, including polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and several organochlorines used as pesticides have been highlighted by international organizations as being chemicals of concern (2).Low-level exposure to some POPs has recently been associated with an increased risk of diabetes (3). Prospective cohort studies of subjects exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), the most potent dioxin congener of POPs, or other POPs in occupational or accidental settings have reported increased risk of diabetes, modified glucose metabolism, or insulin resistance (4 -10). The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs added type 2 diabetes to the list of presumptive diseases associated with the exposure to dioxin-containing Agent Orange in Vietnam (11).However, whether similar associations exist in the general population with lifetime exposure to very low doses of a mixture of various POPs is not known. Given that almost everyone has measurable amounts of POPs, the public health significance of a ...

Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup agricultural herbicides and other herbicide formulations that are widely used for agricultural, forestry, and residential weed control. As part of the Farm Family Exposure Study, we evaluated urinary glyphosate concentrations for 48 farmers, their spouses, and their 79 children (4-18 years of age). We evaluated 24-hr composite urine samples for each family member the day before, the day of, and for 3 days after a glyphosate application. Sixty percent of farmers had detectable levels of glyphosate in their urine on the day of application. The geometric mean (GM) concentration was 3 ppb, the maximum value was 233 ppb, and the highest estimated systemic dose was 0.004 mg/kg. Farmers who did not use rubber gloves had higher GM urinary concentrations than did other farmers (10 ppb vs. 2.0 ppb). For spouses, 4% had detectable levels in their urine on the day of application. Their maximum value was 3 ppb. For children, 12% had detectable glyphosate in their urine on the day of application, with a maximum concentration of 29 ppb. All but one of the children with detectable concentrations had helped with the application or were present during herbicide mixing, loading, or application. None of the systemic doses estimated in this study approached the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reference dose for glyphosate of 2 mg/kg/day. Nonetheless, it is advisable to minimize exposure to pesticides, and this study did identify specific practices that could be modified to reduce the potential for exposure.

Mistiming is not a unitary construct. Its extent is associated with maternal characteristics and behaviors. Future research on pregnancy intention should examine the extent of mistiming and consider alternatives to traditional definitions of intendedness.

This study investigated factors associated with successful return to work for cancer survivors in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. A focus group was held with seven female cancer survivors. Participants discussed return-to-work issues following a cancer diagnosis. Factors such as coworker support and job flexibility improved their experiences, whereas coworker and supervisor ignorance about cancer and lack of support made returning to work more stressful. Participants discussed personal, environmental, and cancer-related factors that influenced their experiences with returning to work following a cancer diagnosis. Knowledge of factors that support employees helps occupational health nurses ease their transition, and may improve quality of life for employees. Physicians and health care provider teams may play a critical role in the employees' positive evaluation of their recovery process. This pilot study serves as a basis for a larger, population-based study.