Exposure to pesticide HCB may raise risk of ALS, new study finds
WHY IT MATTERS
If you have ALS or a family history of it, understanding environmental risk factors like HCB exposure could help you and your doctor identify potential causes and discuss ways to reduce exposure to similar pollutants.
A new study from Denmark found that people with higher levels of HCB (a pesticide that was banned in many countries) in their blood may have a higher risk of developing ALS, a disease that affects nerve cells and causes muscle weakness. HCB was used as a pesticide in the past but is no longer allowed in many places because it can be harmful to health. This research suggests that exposure to this old pollutant might be connected to ALS risk.
Higher blood levels of the pollutant hexachlorobenzene (HCB), once widely used as a pesticide and later restricted in many countries due to concerns about toxicity, may increase the risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to data from people living in two cities in Denmark. In contrast, most of the other persistent organic pollutants […] The post Exposure to pesticide HCB may raise risk of ALS, new study finds appeared first on ALS News Today .
ASK YOUR DOCTOR
Ask your neurologist at your next appointment whether HCB or other persistent organic pollutant exposure might be relevant to your ALS diagnosis or risk, especially if you live in an area with historical pesticide use.