@article{ref1,
title="Pesticide exposure as a risk factor for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A meta-analysis of epidemiological studies: Pesticide exposure as a risk factor for ALS",
journal="Environmental research",
year="2012",
author="Malek, Angela M. and Barchowsky, Aaron and Bowser, Robert and Youk, Ada and Talbott, Evelyn O.",
volume="117",
number="",
pages="112-119",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Exposure to pesticides and agricultural chemicals has been linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) although findings have been inconsistent. A meta-analysis of studies published through May, 2011 was conducted to investigate the association of pesticide exposure and risk of ALS. METHODS: Six peer-reviewed studies that met criteria were included in a meta-analysis of men involving 1,517 ALS deaths from one retrospective cohort study and 589 ALS or motor neuron disease cases from five case-control studies. A random effects model was used to calculate sex-specific pooled odds ratios (ORs). RESULTS: Evidence was found for an association of exposure to pesticides and risk of ALS in male cases compared to controls (OR=1.88, 95% CI: 1.36-2.61), although the chemical or class of pesticide was not specified by the majority of studies. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis supports the relationship of exposure to pesticides and development of ALS among male cases compared to controls. The weight of evidence links pesticide exposure to ALS; however, additional prospective studies with a target exposure group are necessary to better elucidate the relationship. Future research should focus on more accurate exposure assessment and the use of job exposure matrices.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0013-9351",
doi="10.1016/j.envres.2012.06.007",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2012.06.007"
}