Evaluation of the Association between Arsenic and Diabetes: A National Toxicology Program Workshop Review

Ehp03.niehs.nih.gov: 8/10/12

Background: Diabetes affects an estimated 346 million people globally. Total deaths from diabetes are projected to increase > 50% in the next decade. Understanding the role of environmental chemicals in the development or progression of diabetes is an emerging issue in environmental health. In 2011, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) organized a workshop to assess the literature for evidence of associations between certain chemicals, including inorganic arsenic, and diabetes and/or obesity to help develop a focused research agenda. This report is derived from discussions at that workshop.

Objectives: Our objective was to assess the consistency, strength/weaknesses, and biological plausibility of findings in the scientific literature regarding arsenic and diabetes, and to identify data gaps and areas for future evaluation/research. The extent of the existing literature was insufficient to consider obesity as an outcome. Read More