Publication related to RSI or an RSI staff member
A meta-analysis of observational studies of the association between chronic occupational exposure to lead and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
OBJECTIVE: The association between occupational exposure to lead and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) was examined through systematic review and meta-analyses of relevant epidemiological studies and reported according to PRISMA guidelines. METHODS: Relevant studies were searched in multiple bibliographic databases through September 2013; additional articles were tracked through PubMed until submission. All records were screened in DistillerSR, and the data extracted from included articles were synthesized with meta-analysis. RESULTS: The risk of developing ALS among individuals with a history of exposure to lead was almost doubled (odds ratio, 1.81; 95% confidence interval, 1.39 to 2.36) on the basis of nine included case-control studies with specific lead exposure information, with no apparent heterogeneity across included studies (I = 14%). The attributable risk of ALS because of exposure to lead was estimated to be 5%. CONCLUSIONS: Previous exposure to lead may be a risk factor for ALS.
Authors
- Wang, Ming-Dong, Wang MD, From the Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine (Drs Wang, Gomes, Little, and Krewski), Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ontario; and Department of Medicine (Dr Cashman), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
- Gomes, James, Gomes J,
- Cashman, Neil R, Cashman NR,
- Little, Julian, Little J,
- Krewski, Daniel, Krewski D,
OBJECTIVE: The association between occupational exposure to lead and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) was examined through systematic review and meta-analyses of relevant epidemiological studies and reported according to PRISMA guidelines. METHODS: Relevant studies were searched in multiple bibliographic databases through September 2013; additional articles were tracked through PubMed until submission. All records were screened in DistillerSR, and the data extracted from included articles were synthesized with meta-analysis. RESULTS: The risk of developing ALS among individuals with a history of exposure to lead was almost doubled (odds ratio, 1.81; 95% confidence interval, 1.39 to 2.36) on the basis of nine included case-control studies with specific lead exposure information, with no apparent heterogeneity across included studies (I = 14%). The attributable risk of ALS because of exposure to lead was estimated to be 5%. CONCLUSIONS: Previous exposure to lead may be a risk factor for ALS.
