Arsenic and Atrazine in Drinking Water and the Risk of Gestational Diabetes

Abstract

Arsenic and atrazine in drinking water and the risk of gestational diabetes BackgroundThere is limited evidence that arsenic and atrazine are associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes. The objective of this study is to assess the potential association between exposure to arsenic and atrazine in drinking water and the risk of gestational diabetes. MethodsGestational diabetes was ascertained from birth certificate data from the Ohio Department of Health for 428,804 mothers delivering between 2006 – 2008 in the state of Ohio. Exposure data in this study were obtained at the county level from the Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and at the community level from the Atrazine Monitoring Program (AMP). Logistic regression models were used to assess the association between both environmental chemicals and gestational diabetes while controlling for year, maternal race/ethnicity, maternal age, maternal education, cigarette use during pregnancy, pre-pregnancy BMI, and socio-economic indicators. Sensitivity analyses were performed to control for gestational hypertension and eclampsia, and by restricting to counties where less than 20% and less than 10% of residents rely on private well water. ResultsThere was no evidence for an association between a one-unit increase in average annual arsenic concentrations (µg/L) and the risk of gestational diabetes in fully-adjusted models [Odds Ratio= 0.97, 95%CI=0.96 – 0.98]. The sensitivity analyses yielded similar results to the full models. There was some evidence of an association between average gestational atrazine exposure and the risk of gestational diabetes in fully adjusted models [Odds Ratio= 1.26, 95%CI=0.97 – 1.63]. ConclusionsThis study provides some evidence of an association between gestational diabetes and atrazine in drinking water. No association between arsenic in drinking water and gestational diabetes was observed. Further research is needed on the role that these and other chemicals may play in gestational diabetes.