Researchers from Michigan are reporting on the results of a study looking at the associations between occupational and environmental toxicant exposures and the odds of developing ALS. These researchers found increased risk of ALS among subjects exposed to organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and brominated flame retardants (BFRs). Specifically, 5 of 122 persistent environmental pollutants were found to be associated with an increased risk for ALS. Surprisingly, 2 chemicals (PCB 151 and PBDE 66) showed protective effects.
Although these findings add to a growing body of literature finding an association between toxicant exposure and the risk for ALS, given the relatively large number of compounds that were tested for in this study, it is reasonable to interpret these data with some level of caution. The authors seem to recognize the limitations of their study: "The analysis of a large number of pollutants and other exposure metrics can increase the likelihood of such effects as well as false associations resulting from multiple comparisons." However, these findings should not be dismissed either, but rather, they should be considered in terms of the results from other peer reviewed reports.
Link to story in Medical Daily
Link to original peer review article in Medline
Although these findings add to a growing body of literature finding an association between toxicant exposure and the risk for ALS, given the relatively large number of compounds that were tested for in this study, it is reasonable to interpret these data with some level of caution. The authors seem to recognize the limitations of their study: "The analysis of a large number of pollutants and other exposure metrics can increase the likelihood of such effects as well as false associations resulting from multiple comparisons." However, these findings should not be dismissed either, but rather, they should be considered in terms of the results from other peer reviewed reports.
Link to story in Medical Daily
Link to original peer review article in Medline
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