Study on the Risk of Long-Term Exposure to Selected Heavy Metals and Its Association With the Development of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Baghdad

Human activities, such as power generation stations, are a major contributor to environmental pollution in Baghdad city since they increase and accumulate pollutants containing heavy metals. Three groups were established from the human blood samples used in the study. The first group, the H1 control group, consisted of fifteen samples of healthy, rural-dwelling individuals. Thirty people with type 2 diabetes who resided in rural regions, away from urban pollution, made up the second group (H2). Thirty individuals with type 2 diabetes who had worked for at least three years in power electric generating stations for both public and private schools in Baghdad, Iraq, made up the third group (H3). After an average fasting period of 8 to 12 hours and with ages ranging from 35 to 70 years, 75 male blood samples were collected. Due to the extremely significant difference (P ≤ 0.01), the results reveal HbA1c. There is no discernible difference between SGOT and SGPT in liver enzymes. A significantly significant difference (P ≤ 0.01) is seen between the variables in alkaline phosphatase. The creatinine and urea analyses reveal a notable disparity (P ≤ 0.05) in kidney function. There is no discernible difference between uric acid and calcium. Concentrations of heavy metals differ significantly (P ≤ 0.01) in Cd, but just marginally (P ≤ 0.05) in Cu and Cr. Neither Mn nor Zn differed significantly. Finding a link between heavy metal intake and the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus is the primary objective of this research.