Published 2018

Our study suggests an association between consistently higher exposures to DE and ALS in men, but not in women. These findings support previous reports of associations between ALS and occupations commonly involving DE exposure.

Although our assessment was of occupational exposures, widespread population exposures to DE do occur, particularly from some traffic pollution, though most often at a lower level than the occupational exposures. Studies of exposure to DE in the general population are warranted. Given the widespread nature of DE exposure but the rarity of ALS, an association with DE could suggest that only certain people are sensitive to DE exposure, possibly determined by genetic profile.