WASHINGTON: Exposure to synthetic chemicals found in insecticides may lead to a higher risk for metabolic diseases such as diabetes and also affect sleeping patterns, researchers including one of Indian origin have warned. Researchers at University at Buffalo (UB) in the US suggest that exposure to these insecticides adversely affects melatonin receptor signalling, creating a higher risk for metabolic diseases such as diabetes. Disruptions in human circadian rhythms are known to put people at higher risk for diabetes and other metabolic diseases but the mechanism involved is not well-understood. "That means that exposure to them could put people at higher risk for diabetes and also affect sleeping patterns," said Popevska-Gorevski. The results suggest that there is a need to assess environmental chemicals for their ability to disrupt circadian activity.

Source: Economic Times January 20, 2017 12:26 UTC