Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis after long-term exposure to drinking water with high selenium content.
We examined 9 years' incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a disease previously associated with a high-selenium environment, in a cohort of 5,182 residents of Reggio Emilia, Italy. This cohort had accidentally been exposed to drinking water with high selenium content. Four cases were diagnosed during the follow-up. Using the remainder of the municipal population as the reference group, the standardized incidence ratio was 4.22 (95% confidence interval = 1.15-10.80). The standardized incidence ratio was higher after limiting the analysis to the subcohort with the longest ascertainable exposure period. The findings appear to confirm a causal association between overexposure to environmental selenium and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Vinceti
M
M
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Modena, Italy.
Guidetti
D
D
Pinotti
M
M
Rovesti
S
S
Merlin
M
M
Vescovi
L
L
Bergomi
M
M
Vivoli
G
G
D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012643:Selenium / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014881:Water Supply
D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D012643:Selenium