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.
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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors: Department of Neurosciences, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. malek@musc.edu
authors: Angela M
authors: AM
authors: Malek
authors: Aaron
authors: A
authors: Barchowsky
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Bowser
authors: Ada
authors: A
authors: Youk
authors: Evelyn O
authors: EO
authors: Talbott
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010575:Pesticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides