title: Contribution of geolocalisation to neuroepidemiological studies: incidence of ALS and environmental factors in Limousin, France.
abstract: This article aimed to detect clusters of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and their relationships with exposure of the population to various environmental factors in the Limousin region of France. Methods used were extensively described. We adopted a geographical approach that revealed variations in the incidence of ALS and permitted us to identify three regional clusters and their spatial spread. We considered environmental factors and the potent locations or source of substances or activities hypothesized to be associated with ALS. Notably, we determined which industrial activities seem to affect the incidence of ALS in Limousin. The results were interpreted at a regional level. Among the 50 factors this article considered, paper paste and water treatment plants were particularly geostatistically significant and deserve special attention in the ongoing investigations into high resolution spatial clusters (geographical and epidemiological studies).
authors.affiliation: University of Limoges, GEOLAB UMR CNRS 6042, Environnemental Geography Research, Limoges, F-87036, France.
authors.forename: Farid
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Boumédiène
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Druet-Cabanac
authors.forename: Benoît
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Marin
authors.forename: Pierre-Marie
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Preux
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Allée
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Couratier
mesh_terms: D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007221:Industry / Q000639:trends; D012307:Risk Factors