WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Workplace exposure to pesticides may significantly increase the risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a serious disease that affects nerve cells, according to a new study published in Occupational & Environmental Medicine.
During the study, the researchers reviewed studies published between 1990 and 2025, including peer-reviewed papers, theses, and scientific reports on workplace pesticide exposure and ALS. Out of 767 studies screened, they included eight case-control studies involving 1,734 ALS patients and three studies involving 457 people with unspecified motor neuron disease.
The combined analysis showed that people exposed to pesticides at work had a 60% higher risk of developing ALS than those who were not exposed. People with high pesticide exposure had nearly three times the risk of ALS, while those with lower exposure had about twice the risk. Exposure to herbicides was linked to a 70% higher risk of ALS, while exposure to insecticides or fungicides was associated with a 60% higher risk. Among studies that analyzed men and women separately, exposed men were twice as likely to develop ALS as men who were not exposed. However, no increased risk was found among women.
The researchers noted that their findings have limitations, including the small number of studies and the fact that pesticide exposure was often estimated using only a few survey questions.
'The findings of this review add to the evidence that occupational exposure to pesticides may increase the risk of ALS and should encourage the implementation of interventions aimed at reducing exposure during occupational pesticide use,' the study authors concluded.
Copyright(c) 2026 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
© 2026 AFX News
