Relation between Anthropogenic Air Pollution and Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus has emerged as one of the most pressing global health challenges, with both genetic predisposition and environmental triggers contributing to its prevalence. While lifestyle factors such as diet, obesity, and physical inactivity are well-documented, the role of anthropogenic air pollution in diabetes onset and progression has gained considerable scientific attention in recent years. Airborne pollutants such as particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), sulphur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), ozone (O₃), aerosols, smoke, and excess carbon dioxide (CO₂) not only impair respiratory and cardiovascular systems but also play a critical role in systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, and insulin resistance, all of which are key mechanisms linked to the development of type 2 diabetes. This paper seeks to synthesize the current understanding of how these pollutants contribute to diabetes risk and highlight the public health implications of this emerging association.