Authors
Wang MingDong Wang MingDong, J Gomes, NR Cashman, J Little, D Krewski
Publication date
2014
Volume
56
Issue
12
Pages
1235-1242
Description
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 (I2=14%). The attributable risk of ALS because of exposure to …