Zinc and nitrate in the ground water and the incidence of Type 1 diabetes in Finland

Diabet Med. 2004 Mar;21(3):256-61. doi: 10.1111/j.1464-5491.2004.01125.x.

Abstract

Aims: In Finland, the risk of childhood Type 1 diabetes varies geographically. Therefore we investigated the association between spatial variation of Type 1 diabetes and its putative environmental risk factors, zinc and nitrates.

Methods: The association was evaluated using Bayesian modelling and the geo-referenced data on diabetes cases and population.

Results: Neither zinc nor nitrate nor the urban/rural status of the area had a significant effect on the variation in incidence of childhood Type 1 diabetes.

Conclusions: The results showed that although there was no significant difference in incidence between rural and urban areas, there was a tendency to increasing risk of Type 1 diabetes with the increasing concentration of NO3 in drinking water. The fact that no significant effect was found may stem from the aggregated data being too crude to detect it.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / chemically induced
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / epidemiology*
  • Environmental Exposure / adverse effects*
  • Finland / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Infant
  • Nitrates / toxicity*
  • Risk Factors
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / toxicity*
  • Water Supply
  • Zinc / toxicity*

Substances

  • Nitrates
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Zinc