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# Exposure to pesticide raises diabetes risk
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/exposure-to-pesticide-raises-diabetes-risk/
- Published: 2008-06-09T17:35:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T15:55:48.000Z
- Description: Among licensed pesticide applicators, those in the highest exposure category had a 17 percent higher risk of diabetes than the least exposed, with 4.6 percent developing it against 3.4 percent. Researchers put the increase for some pesticides at 20 to 200 percent.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Environment, #vivvo-import

The increase in the risk could range from 20 to 200 percent, said the researchers with the NIH's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the National Cancer Institute.

Known risk factors for diabetes include obesity, lack of physical exercise, and having a family history of diabetes. The current study points to another potential risk: exposure to pesticide.

The finding may reach beyond the licensed pesticide applicators because the general population is also exposed to some pesticides in the study, although others are no longer available on the market. In addition, chlorinated pesticides persist and the risk to human health could last for a long time.

The study found the pesticide applicators whose exposure was in the highest category had a 17 percent increased risk of diabetes compared to those in the lowest exposure category.

New cases of diabetes were found in 3.4 percent of those in the lowest exposure group and in 4.6 percent of those in the highest exposure group.

By Sue Mueller, and edited by Heather Kelley.  
Jun 9, 2008 - 7:51:37 AM