Arsenic Exposure and Risk for Type 2 Diabetes

Inorganic arsenic impairs glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity. However, prior studies investigating an association between arsenic and diabetes have not always distinguished between exposure to inorganic arsenic (mainly from drinking water) and to organic arsenic (mainly from seafood), nor looked at lower-level environmental exposure. Using cross-sectional data from a population-representative national nutrition survey, researchers assessed the association between organic and inorganic arsenic levels and risk for diabetes in 788 U.S. adults.

Arsenic levels were measured in urine. Ninety-three subjects were diabetic, as determined by use of insulin or hypoglycemic medications, self-report of diabetes diagnoses, or high blood sugar leve…