Are environmental exposures to selenium, heavy metals, and pesticides risk factors for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis?

Rev Environ Health

CREAGEN - Environmental, Genetic and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy.

Published: July 2012

AI Article Synopsis

Article Abstract

The etiology of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the most common form of this degenerative disease of the motor neurons, is still unknown, despite extensive investigation of several genetic and environmental potential risk factors. We have reviewed laboratory and epidemiological studies assessing the role of exposure to neurotoxic chemicals (metalloid selenium; heavy metals mercury, cadmium, and lead; pesticides) in ALS etiology by summarizing the results of these investigations and examining their strengths and limitations. Despite limitations in the exposure assessment methodologies typically used in human studies, we found suggestive epidemiological evidence and biologic plausibility for an association between ALS and antecedent overexposure to environmental selenium and pesticides. The relation with mercury, cadmium, and lead appears weaker.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/reveh-2012-0002DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

selenium heavy
8
heavy metals
8
risk factors
8
amyotrophic lateral
8
mercury cadmium
8
cadmium lead
8
environmental exposures
4
exposures selenium
4
metals pesticides
4
pesticides risk
4

Similar Publications

To address cadmium pollution in China's cultivated land, chitosan, inorganic and organic selenium were used to modify rice husk charcoal for cadmium inhibition. Basic physicochemical properties of rice husk carbons were characterized (BET, FTIR, XRD, Zeta potential). Kinetic and isothermal adsorption experiments studied the adsorption of Cd by modified biochar under different pH and dosages.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The residual concentration of pesticides and heavy metals (arsenic, mercury, selenium, lead, cadmium, and aluminum) was measured in the soil and the cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) liver from two localities at Sharkia Governorate, Egypt. The pesticide residues have taken the following pattern: chlorpyrifos > metalaxyl > piperonyl butoxide > thiophanate-methyl, in the soil. The residual concentration of pesticides was greater in the soil at Kafr El-Ashraf village (agricultural site) than at El-Qanayat city (garbage site) during the summer season of 2021 compared with the winter season of 2022.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

QTL mapping and candidate gene analysis of element accumulation in rice grains via genome-wide association study and population genetic analysis.

BMC Plant Biol

January 2025

Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, 518120, China.

Background: Toxic heavy metal elements in soils are major global environmental issues and easily migrate to crop grains to cause severe problems in human health, whereas moderately essential elements such as selenium are beneficial for human health. The accumulation of heavy metals and essential elements in rice grains and their genetic mechanisms are still poorly understood.

Results: We conducted genetic dissection of four toxic heavy metal elements (lead, cadmium, mercury, and chromium), one quasi metallic element (arsenic), and one essential element (selenium) in grains of 290 Xian and 308 Geng rice accessions through a genome-wide association study (GWAS) based on three statistical models and assays of element concentrations from three environments.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The gut microbiota: A key player in cadmium toxicity - implications for disease, interventions, and combined toxicant exposures.

J Trace Elem Med Biol

November 2024

Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address:

Cadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic heavy metal contaminant found in soil and water due to human activities such as mining and industrial discharge. Cd can accumulate in the body, leading to various health risks such as organ injuries, osteoporosis, renal dysfunction, Type 2 diabetes (T2DM), reproductive diseases, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and cancers. The gut is particularly sensitive to Cd toxicity as it acts as the primary barrier against orally ingested Cd.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Quantification of heavy metal exposure in a British population cohort links total mercury levels in plasma with skin tissue-specific changes in mitochondrial-related gene expression.

Sci Total Environ

January 2025

Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, 3-4th Floor South Wing Block D, St Thomas' Hospital, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7EH, UK. Electronic address:

Heavy metals in our direct environment have profound effects on human health and while some are essential for life, others can be toxic. In vivo studies often focus on clinical features caused by overexposure to, or by deprivation of a heavy metal. However, to understand the cellular impact of heavy metals on health, studies in healthy volunteers before symptom onset are needed.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!