Journal article
Environmental and Occupational Risk Factors for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Case-Control Study
Neuro-degenerative diseases, v 14(1), pp 31-38
01 Jan 2014
PMID: 24246552
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Background/Aims: Environmental and occupational exposures are implicated as risk factors for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the etiology of which is largely unknown, although no causal relationships have been established. Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the associations of personal risk factors and self-reported environmental and occupational exposures with risk of ALS. Methods: The cases involved ALS patients (n = 66) identified from major neurological centers in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, Pa., USA, from 2008 to 2010. The age-, race- and sex-matched controls included outpatient hospital and population-based controls (n = 66). A detailed questionnaire obtaining data on occupation, vocational and avocational exposure as well as personal lifestyle factors was administered. Results: Occupational exposure to metals (odds ratio, OR = 3.65; 95% CI: 1.15, 11.60) and pesticides (OR = 6.50; 95% CI: 1.78, 23.77) was related to increased risk of ALS after controlling for smoking and education. No associations were found for occupational exposure to organic or aromatic solvents. Conclusion: Workers exposed to metals and pesticides may be at greater risk of ALS. Future research should involve more accurate exposure assessment through the use of job exposure matrices, confirmation of occupation and biomarkers. (C) 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel
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Details
- Title
- Environmental and Occupational Risk Factors for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Case-Control Study
- Creators
- Angela M. Malek - Medical University of South CarolinaAaron Barchowsky - Univ Pittsburgh, Grad Sch Publ Hlth, Dept Environm & Occupat Hlth, Philadelphia, PA USARobert Bowser - St Josephs Hosp, Barrow Neurol Inst, Dept Neurol, Phoenix, AZ USATerry Heiman-Patterson - Drexel Univ, Coll Med, Dept Neurol, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USADavid Lacomis - Univ Pittsburgh, Sch Med, Dept Neurol, Philadelphia, PA USASandeep RanaAda Youk - Univ Pittsburgh, Grad Sch Publ Hlth, Dept Biostat & Epidemiol, Philadelphia, PA USADavid Stickler - Med Univ S Carolina, Coll Med, Dept Neurosci, Charleston, SC 29425 USADaniel T. Lackland - Med Univ S Carolina, Coll Med, Dept Neurosci, Charleston, SC 29425 USAEvelyn O. Talbott - Univ Pittsburgh, Grad Sch Publ Hlth, Dept Epidemiol, Philadelphia, PA USA
- Publication Details
- Neuro-degenerative diseases, v 14(1), pp 31-38
- Publisher
- Karger
- Number of pages
- 8
- Grant note
- University of Pittsburgh Center for AILS Research ALS Hope Foundation
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Neurology
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000338096700003
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84903588715
- Other Identifier
- 991019168108204721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Clinical Neurology
- Neurosciences