Nisha Pandey

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Lancet Study Finds Air Pollution & Chemical Exposures Could Add To South Asia's Diabetes & Heart Disease Burden

<span>Air pollution</span>, chemicals that interfere with hormonal health and stress due to climate may be contributing to South Asia’s growing burden of diabetes and <span>heart disease</span>. The <em><span rel="noindex">Lancet</span> </em>study has highlighted the importance of considering other factors than diet and physical inactivity when addressing metabolic health.

A paper published in <em>The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia</em> argues that the environmental conditions people face throughout their lives could play a key role in worsening cardiometabolic health. 

The authors specifically point to a combination of exposures, from fine particulate matter in polluted air to chemicals in consumer products, that could influence how body regulates blood sugar, stores fat and maintains healthy blood vessels.

The paper, titled <em>South Asia’s cardiometabolic burden: exposomal determinants of a health transition</em>, was authored by Misra and Yashendra Sethi of the <span>Department of Medicine</span> at Subharti Medical College, Swami Vivekanand Subharti University, Meerut.

<h2>Effects Of Environmental Exposures On Metabolic Health</h2>

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/delhi-air-pollution-experts-explain-why-you-feel-unusually-tired-when-aqi-rises-article-156377947" data-type="tilCustomLink">Delhi Air Pollution: Experts Explain Why You Feel Unusually Tired When AQI Rises</a>

The authors use the term “exposome” to denote the range of environmental factors a person sees over their lifetime living in a particular city. These include <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/sky-turns-orange-in-indonesia-how-toxic-smog-from-wildfires-can-impact-health-article-156345156" data-type="tilCustomLink">air pollution</a>, chemical contaminants, dietary patterns, sleep pattern and stress.

Fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, is the primary concern, according to the authors. These tiny airborne particles can seep deep into the lungs and cause inflammation that could worsen cardiovascular and respiratory illness. 

The paper also highlights how prolonged exposure may contribute to metabolic dysfunction, including oxidative stress, insulin resistance and damage to the lining of blood vessels.

<span>Chemical exposures</span> are another area of concern. Bisphenols, phthalates and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), found in various industrial and consumer applications, can interfere with hormone health. Depending on the level of exposure, these chemicals may have an effect on insulin sensitivity, appetite and fat cells in the body.

Other lifestyle will only fuel these risks. Irregular sleep, shift work and disrupted body clocks can interfere with metabolic health, while unhealthy diets featuring ultra-processed foods and stress may contribute to inflammation and other reasons that lead to chronic diseases.

The authors say that these overlapping exposures could help explain why conditions like type 2 diabetes, steatotic liver disease and cardiovascular disease are becoming alarming public health concerns in South Asia. However, the contribution of individual exposures and their combined effects requires further investigation.

<h2>South Asians Face Greater Risks Of Chronic Diseases</h2>

How to Protect Your Lungs From Childhood to Old Age | World Lung Day

South Asians can develop <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/swiss-team-including-indian-scientists-develops-electric-implant-to-lower-blood-sugar-without-insulin-or-drugs-article-156391878" data-type="tilCustomLink">type 2 diabetes</a> and cardiovascular disease at younger ages and at lower body mass index levels than many Western populations. The paper places the region’s rapid economic and social transformation behind this vulnerability. 

It means that generations that experienced undernutrition for centuries now live in environments influenced by urbanisation, better transport, changing diets and greater exposure to pollution. Biological tendencies towards energy storage may interact with these newer conditions, increasing metabolic risk.

Across the Asia-Pacific region, the burden of cardiometabolic disease, measured in life years after adjusting disability, rose between 1.7-fold and 3.7-fold from 1990 to 2023.

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/rising-aqi-in-delhi-ncr-doctors-warn-of-lung-and-heart-risks-as-pollution-builds-article-156382132" data-type="tilCustomLink">Rising AQI In Delhi-NCR: Doctors Warn Of Lung And Heart Risks As Pollution Builds</a>

The authors argue that advice on eating well, exercising and sleeping adequately remains important, but they cannot help when people have limited control over the air they breathe or the environmental quality.

The paper recommends monitoring environmental exposures, intervening early in life, strengthening food policies, and conducting long-term research to understand how exposures influence cardiometabolic outcomes.

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Chemical Exposures

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Air pollution, chemicals that interfere with hormonal health and stress due to climate may be contributing to South Asia’s growing burden of diabetes and heart disease. The Lancet study has highlighted the importance of considering other factors than diet and physical inactivity when addressing metabolic health.A paper published in The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia argues that the environmental conditions people face throughout their lives could play a key role in worsening cardiometabolic health. The authors specifically point to a combination of exposures, from fine particulate matter in polluted air to chemicals in consumer products, that could influence how body regulates blood sugar, stores fat and maintains healthy blood vessels.The paper, titled South Asia’s cardiometabolic burden: exposomal determinants of a health transition, was authored by Misra and Yashendra Sethi of the Department of Medicine at Subharti Medical College, Swami Vivekanand Subharti University, Meerut.Effects Of Environmental Exposures On Metabolic HealthAlso read: Delhi Air Pollution: Experts Explain Why You Feel Unusually Tired When AQI RisesThe authors use the term “exposome” to denote the range of environmental factors a person sees over their lifetime living in a particular city. These include air pollution, chemical contaminants, dietary patterns, sleep pattern and stress.Fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, is the primary concern, according to the authors. These tiny airborne particles can seep deep into the lungs and cause inflammation that could worsen cardiovascular and respiratory illness. The paper also highlights how prolonged exposure may contribute to metabolic dysfunction, including oxidative stress, insulin resistance and damage to the lining of blood vessels.Chemical exposures are another area of concern. Bisphenols, phthalates and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), found in various industrial and consumer applications, can interfere with hormone health. Depending on the level of exposure, these chemicals may have an effect on insulin sensitivity, appetite and fat cells in the body.Other lifestyle will only fuel these risks. Irregular sleep, shift work and disrupted body clocks can interfere with metabolic health, while unhealthy diets featuring ultra-processed foods and stress may contribute to inflammation and other reasons that lead to chronic diseases.The authors say that these overlapping exposures could help explain why conditions like type 2 diabetes, steatotic liver disease and cardiovascular disease are becoming alarming public health concerns in South Asia. However, the contribution of individual exposures and their combined effects requires further investigation.South Asians Face Greater Risks Of Chronic Diseases   South Asians can develop type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease at younger ages and at lower body mass index levels than many Western populations. The paper places the region’s rapid economic and social transformation behind this vulnerability. It means that generations that experienced undernutrition for centuries now live in environments influenced by urbanisation, better transport, changing diets and greater exposure to pollution. Biological tendencies towards energy storage may interact with these newer conditions, increasing metabolic risk.Across the Asia-Pacific region, the burden of cardiometabolic disease, measured in life years after adjusting disability, rose between 1.7-fold and 3.7-fold from 1990 to 2023.Also read: Rising AQI In Delhi-NCR: Doctors Warn Of Lung And Heart Risks As Pollution BuildsApproach For PreventionThe authors argue that advice on eating well, exercising and sleeping adequately remains important, but they cannot help when people have limited control over the air they breathe or the environmental quality.The paper recommends monitoring environmental exposures, intervening early in life, strengthening food policies, and conducting long-term research to understand how exposures influence cardiometabolic outcomes.

lancet study finds air pollution & chemical exposures could add to south asia's diabetes & heart disease burden

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