Some chemicals can persist in the environment and accumulate in the human body for decades. New research suggests they may also reach an organ critical to regulating blood sugar: the pancreas.
Carleton University biologists Jennifer Bruin and Myriam Hoyeck discuss research published in Nature Communications that found long-banned environmental pollutants in human pancreatic tissue. The study found that higher levels of these pollutants were associated with impaired insulin secretion, offering new clues about how environmental exposures could contribute to metabolic problems.
Bruin and Hoyeck explain what the findings mean, how persistent chemicals may affect insulin-producing cells and why metabolic health could be an important consideration in chemical safety assessments. They also discuss the team's next steps, including research into newer persistent chemicals such as PFAS.
