Really sad stuff for sure.
2008: Researchers found no significant link between ALS and exposure to most chemicals, including pesticides and herbicides.
People who reported that they had regular exposure to formaldehyde, however, were 34 percent more likely to develop ALS than those with no exposure to formaldehyde.
"Although this finding could well be a chance observation, it merits further investigation, particularly because people with longer exposure to formaldehyde had a greater risk of developing ALS than those with shorter exposures," said study author Marc Weisskopf, PhD, of Harvard University in Boston.
"People who reported 10 or more years of exposure were almost four times as likely to develop ALS as those with no exposure."
Weisskopf said the results are preliminary and more research needs to be done to test the results. "This finding was somewhat surprising because formaldehyde has not been raised as an issue in ALS before," he said.
Link:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080416151952.htm and
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2765376/
2016 Link:
https://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20160509/pesticides-linked-to-raised-risk-of-als
"We are identifying these toxic, persistent, environmental pollutants in higher amounts in ALS patients compared to those who do not have ALS," said study co-author Dr. Stephen Goutman. He is an assistant professor of neurology at the University of Michigan and director of its ALS Clinic.
This new study doesn't prove pesticides cause ALS, but it does build on an association suggested in previous research, Goutman said. Scientists already suspect pesticides may contribute to
Parkinson's disease, another neurodegenerative disorder.
Military service was also linked to a greater risk for developing ALS, but the investigators can't explain why.
2016 Link: 2016 Link:
https://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20160509/pesticides-linked-to-raised-risk-of-als
There have been some other studies that link exposure to pesticides and herbicides as a possible cause of ALS however more studies and research are needed to confirm this. Don't take risks with your health. Eat USDA Organic if you can afford to (it will lessen daily exposure to these nasties but not eliminate them entirely). What good is money if you get this or Parkinsons, etc.? Eff that (unneeded) new car purchase, spend the $$$ on quality food instead!