Environmental factors and diseases of the pancreas

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977 · Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.7720105· OSTI ID:6584968

Longnecker, D S

The five major diseases of the pancreas, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, acute and chronic pancreatitis, and carcinoma of the exocrine pancreas, are discussed in terms of environmental influences. Homeostasis and disease in humans and the five pancreas diseases are described. Many cases of chronic and acute pancreatitis are numbered among those human pancreatic diseases attributed to the effect of chemical agents, including alcohol and drugs. The cause is not known in many cases of human pancreatitis, including interstitial, acute, and chronic clinical forms. Epidemiological studies indicate that the increasing incidence of carcinoma of the exocrine pancreas in the U.S. may reflect chemical carcinogenesis. On the basis of experimental observations, it is known that pancreatic islet cells can be damaged directly by toxic chemicals, and that islet cell tumors can be chemically induced. Adequate background data exist to conclude that several pancreatic diseases of obscure etiology may be due in part to hitherto unidentified toxic effects of chemical agents encountered in personal or general environments. 72 references, 5 tables.

• Research Organization: Dartmouth Medical School
• OSTI ID: 6584968
• Journal Information: Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States) Vol. 20; ISSN EVHPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550900 -- Pathology
560306* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Man-- (-1987)
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALCOHOLS
BODY
CARCINOMAS
DIABETES MELLITUS
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISEASES
DRUGS
ENDOCRINE DISEASES
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
ETIOLOGY
GLANDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
NEOPLASMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PANCREAS
PATHOLOGY
POLLUTION