Article

Potential occupational risks for neurodegenerative diseases†

  1. Robert M. Park MS1,*,
  2. Paul A. Schulte PhD1,
  3. Joseph D. Bowman PhD, CIH2,
  4. James T. Walker PhD3,
  5. Stephen C. Bondy MA, PhD4,
  6. Michael G. Yost MS, PhD5,
  7. Jennifer A. Touchstone MS5,
  8. Mustafa Dosemeci PhD6

Article first published online: 6 JUN 2005

DOI: 10.1002/ajim.20178

Issue

American Journal of Industrial Medicine

American Journal of Industrial Medicine

Volume 48, Issue 1, pages 63–77, July 2005

Additional Information

How to Cite

Park, R. M., Schulte, P. A., Bowman, J. D., Walker, J. T., Bondy, S. C., Yost, M. G., Touchstone, J. A. and Dosemeci, M. (2005), Potential occupational risks for neurodegenerative diseases. Am. J. Ind. Med., 48: 63–77. doi: 10.1002/ajim.20178

Author Information

  1. 1

    Education and Information Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, Ohio

  2. 2

    Division of Applied Research and Technology, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, Ohio

  3. 3

    Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations and Field Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, Ohio

  4. 4

    Department of Community & Environmental Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California

  5. 5

    Department of Environmental Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington

  6. 6

    Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, Maryland

*Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Education and Information Division, MS C-15, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226.

  1. †

    This article is a US Government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 6 JUN 2005
  2. Article first published online: 6 JUN 2005
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 27 MAR 2005

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Keywords:

  • Alzheimer's disease;
  • hairdresser;
  • motor neuron disease;
  • magnetic field;
  • Parkinson's disease;
  • pesticide;
  • welding

Abstract

Background

Associations between occupations and neurodegenerative diseases (NDD) may be discernable in death certificate data.

Methods

Hypotheses generated from 1982 to 1991 study were tested in data from 22 states for the years 1992–1998. Specific occupations and exposures to pesticides, solvents, oxidative stressors, magnetic fields, and welding fumes were evaluated.

Results

About one third (26/87) of the occupations hypothesized with neurodegenerative associations had statistically significant elevated mortality odds ratios (MOR) for the same outcome. Occupations with the largest MORs were (a) for presenile dementia (PSD)—dentists, graders/sorters (non-agricultural), and clergy; (b) for Alzheimer's disease (AD)—bank tellers, clergy, aircraft mechanics, and hairdressers; (c) for Parkinson's disease (PD)—biological scientists, clergy, religious workers, and post-secondary teachers; and (d) for motor neuron disease (MND)—veterinarians, hairdressers, and graders and sorters (non-agricultural). Teachers had significantly elevated MORs for all four diseases, and hairdressers for three of the four. Non-horticultural farmers below age 65 had elevated PD (MOR = 2.23, 95% CI = 1.47–3.26), PSD (MOR = 2.22, 95% CI = 1.10–4.05), and AD (MOR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.04–2.81). Sixty hertz magnetic fields exhibited significant exposure-response for AD and, below age 65, for PD (MOR = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.14–2.98) and MND (MOR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.10–2.39). Welding had elevated PD mortality below age 65 (MOR = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.08–2.75).

Conclusions

Support was observed for hypothesized excess neurodegenerative disease associated with a variety of occupations, 60 Hz magnetic fields and welding. Am. J. Ind. Med. 48:63–77, 2005. Published 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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