How Pollution Can Make You Gain Fat, Resulting In Obesity

74859 A team of researchers from the University of Granada in Spain has decoded the link between obesity and the presence of certain pollutants in the environment. According to co-author Juan Pedro Arrebola, individuals with increased level of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the bloodstream were remarkably obese than the individuals with normal levels of POPs. In addition, they were found to have higher levels of triglycerides and cholesterol in the body, a condition that results in the accumulation of excessive fat around the waist. In addition, these factors put the concerned person at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.

The fact that concerns the researchers is that the non-degradable POPs have the tendency to remain in the environment long many years.

«Humans are exposed to POPs mainly through diet. Besides, POPs accumulate gradually in body fat, and this is the reason why the median levels in our study give us an idea of an individual’s accumulated exposition over a number of years,» said Arrebola, as reported by The Times of India.

The researchers conducted the study among 300 individuals, both men and women, wherein the level of accumulated pollutants in their fatty tissue was analysed. Based on the study results, the researchers claimed that the level of many POPs have a direct link with obesity and the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood, irrespective of the gender, age, location and smoking habits of the sample population.

The study has been published in the journal Environmental Pollution

Descargar