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Occupational Exposures and Neurodegenerative Diseases—A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analyses

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  • Lars-Gunnar Gunnarsson

    (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, Örebro University, 701 82 Örebro, Sweden)

  • Lennart Bodin

    (Department of Statistics, Örebro University, 701 82 Örebro, Sweden
    Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, SE 177 77 Stockholm, Sweden)

Abstract

Objectives: To carry out an integrated and stratified meta-analysis on occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs), metals and pesticides and its effects on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, and investigate the possibility of publication bias. Methods : In the current study, we updated our recently published meta-analyses on occupational exposures in relation to ALS, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Based on 66 original publications of good scientific epidemiological standard, according to the Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) guidelines, we analysed subgroups by carrying out stratified meta-analyses on publication year, statistical precision of the relative risk (RR) estimates, inspection of the funnel plots and test of bias. Results : Based on 19 studies the weighted RR for occupational exposure to EMFs was 1.26 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07–1.50) for ALS, 1.33 (95% CI 1.07–1.64) for Alzheimer’s disease and 1.02 (95% CI 0.83–1.26) for Parkinson’s disease. Thirty-one studies concerned occupational exposure to pesticides and the weighted RR was 1.35 (95% CI 1.02–1.79) for ALS, 1.50 (95% CI 0.98–2.29) for Alzheimer’s disease and 1.66 (95% CI 1.42–1.94) for Parkinson’s disease. Finally, 14 studies concerned occupational exposure to metals and only exposure to lead (five studies) involved an elevated risk for ALS or Parkinson’s disease and the weighted RR was 1.57 (95% CI 1.11–2.20). The weighted RR for all the non-lead exposures was 0.97 (95% CI 0.88–1.06). Conclusions : Exposure to pesticides increased the risk of getting the mentioned neurodegenerative diseases by at least 50%. Exposure to lead was only studied for ALS and Parkinson’s disease and involved 50% increased risk. Occupational exposure to EMFs seemed to involve some 10% increase in risk for ALS and Alzheimer’s disease only.

Suggested Citation

  • Lars-Gunnar Gunnarsson & Lennart Bodin, 2019. "Occupational Exposures and Neurodegenerative Diseases—A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analyses," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-17, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:3:p:337-:d:200868
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hongjie Zhou & Guangdi Chen & Chunjing Chen & Yunxian Yu & Zhengping Xu, 2012. "Association between Extremely Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields Occupations and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Meta-Analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(11), pages 1-7, November.
    2. Lars-Gunnar Gunnarsson & Lennart Bodin, 2018. "Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Occupational Exposures: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analyses," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-21, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Eirini Dimakakou & Helinor J. Johnston & George Streftaris & John W. Cherrie, 2020. "Is Environmental and Occupational Particulate Air Pollution Exposure Related to Type-2 Diabetes and Dementia? A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the UK Biobank," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-17, December.
    2. Raphaëlle Teysseire & Emmanuelle Barron & Isabelle Baldi & Carole Bedos & Alexis Chazeaubeny & Karyn Le Menach & Audrey Roudil & Hélène Budzinski & Fleur Delva, 2023. "Pesticide Exposure of Residents Living in Wine Regions: Protocol and First Results of the Pestiprev Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-14, February.
    3. Morgane Bresson & Mathilde Bureau & Jérémie Le Goff & Yannick Lecluse & Elsa Robelot & Justine Delamare & Isabelle Baldi & Pierre Lebailly, 2022. "Pesticide Exposure in Fruit-Growers: Comparing Levels and Determinants Assessed under Usual Conditions of Work (CANEPA Study) with Those Predicted by Registration Process (Agricultural Operator Exposu," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-20, April.
    4. Tommaso Filippini & Marina Tesauro & Maria Fiore & Carlotta Malagoli & Michela Consonni & Federica Violi & Laura Iacuzio & Elisa Arcolin & Gea Oliveri Conti & Antonio Cristaldi & Pietro Zuccarello & E, 2020. "Reply to Comment on “Environmental and Occupational Risk Factors of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Population-Based Case-Control Study”," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-3, September.
    5. Giorgia Adani & Tommaso Filippini & Caterina Garuti & Marcella Malavolti & Giulia Vinceti & Giovanna Zamboni & Manuela Tondelli & Chiara Galli & Manuela Costa & Marco Vinceti & Annalisa Chiari, 2020. "Environmental Risk Factors for Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Dementia and Frontotemporal Dementia: A Case-Control Study in Northern Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-18, October.
    6. Tommaso Filippini & Jessica Mandrioli & Carlotta Malagoli & Sofia Costanzini & Andrea Cherubini & Giuseppe Maffeis & Marco Vinceti, 2021. "Risk of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Exposure to Particulate Matter from Vehicular Traffic: A Case-Control Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-14, January.
    7. Isabella Karakis & Shaked Yarza & Yair Zlotnik & Gal Ifergane & Itai Kloog & Kineret Grant-Sasson & Lena Novack, 2023. "Contribution of Solar Radiation and Pollution to Parkinson’s Disease," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-18, January.
    8. Hanna Maria Elonheimo & Helle Raun Andersen & Andromachi Katsonouri & Hanna Tolonen, 2021. "Environmental Substances Associated with Alzheimer’s Disease—A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-22, November.
    9. Joanna Wyszkowska & Colin Pritchard, 2022. "Open Questions on the Electromagnetic Field Contribution to the Risk of Neurodegenerative Diseases," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-15, December.

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