A Northern contaminant mixture impairs pancreas function in obese and lean JCR rats and inhibits insulin secretion in MIN6 cells

•Pancreatic islets, and especially beta cells, are vulnerable targets of environmental contaminants in both obese and lean rats.•Lean rats are equally sensitive as obese rats to the induction of beta-cell injury by environmental contaminants.•Minor components of a contaminant mixture may impose significant effects on secretory function of endocrine cells and should not be overlooked for their health effects.•It warrants investigation if exposure to contaminants contributes to beta cell loss in human diabetic patients, and if lean human individuals are as sensitive as obese human individuals to contaminants induced beta cell injury.