title: Environmental Contaminants and Pancreatic Beta-Cells.
abstract: Despite health policies as well as clinical and research efforts, diabetes prevalence is still rising around the world. A multitude of causes have been suggested for this increase, mostly related to familial background, the occidental diet which is rich in fat/carbohydrates, and sedentary life style. Type 2 diabetes involves malfunctions of the primary pancreatic beta-cells, usually attributed to local damage; however, it can be associated with other stressful environmental agents, such as chemical contaminants from food, plastic and air, among others. Indeed, exposure to these chemical agents during perinatal and adolescent life can increase the risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases later in life. This review explores data showing which environmental chemical agents may produce injury in beta-cells and further impair the insulinotropic process of type 2 diabetes. Additionally, it points the need to also consider unusual causes of metabolic diseases, such as environmental contaminants.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fabricio
authors.forename: Ananda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malta
authors.forename: Abalo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chango
authors.affiliation: State University of Maringá, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Laboratory of Secretion Cell Biology, Maringá, Brazil, Phone: + 55 (44) 3011 4892 E-mail: pmathias@uem.br.
authors.forename: Paulo Cezar
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: De Freitas Mathias
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000506:poisoning*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants