Supplementary Table 2. Risk of ALS and self-reported occupational exposure by lifetime days
of exposure among matched cases and controls.a
No. of cases
(n = 66)
(Conditional) b
OR (95% CI)
Exposure (days)
Metals c
1-399
2
0.45 (0.09, 2.34)
400-1,999
5
5.0 (0.58, 42.79)
> 2,000
11
2.63 (0.83, 8.31)
d
Pesticides
1-399
8
2.33 (0.60, 9.02)
400-1,999
1
0.50 (0.05, 5.51)
> 2,000
8
4.00 (0.85, 18.84)
Organic/chlorinated solvents e
1-399
4
0.37 (0.12, 1.21)
400-1,999
6
0.64 (0.21, 1.94)
> 2,000
16
1.35 (0.53, 3.43)
Aromatic solvents, petroleum, and rubber f
1-399
6
0.83 (0.28, 2.47)
400-1,999
4
0.61 (0.14, 2.59)
> 2,000
14
1.39 (0.53, 3.67)
Diesel and gasoline fuel
1-399
2
0.43 (0.08, 2.24)
400-1,999
6
2.46 (0.42, 14.26)
> 2,000
12
1.80 (0.62, 5.17)
Antifreeze and coolants
1-399
4
1.52 (0.25, 9.28)
400-1,999
2
0.33 (0.04, 3.21)
> 2,000
5
1.05 (0.26, 4.30)
Electrical and electronic equipment or
machinery and electromagnetic fields g
1-399
1
0.20 (0.02, 1.86)
400-1,999
4
1.04 (0.22, 4.84)*
> 2,000
25
0.40 (0.19, 0.84)
Abbreviations: ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval.
The analysis excluded two controls who did not hold jobs as of the reference date.
The reference group was zero lifetime days of exposure to the agent.
c
Metals included lead and mercury.
d
Pesticides included: insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and fumigants.
e
Organic/chlorinated solvents included: paint strippers, adhesives, degreasers and other cleaning agents,
dry cleaning agents, and dyes or printing inks.
f
Aromatic solvents, petroleum, and rubber included: solvents (such as toluene and xylene), mineral
spirits or white spirits, varnishes, oil-based paint, paint thinners, cutting, cooling, and lubrication oils.
g
Electrical and electronic equipment and machinery included electromagnetic fields such as power
lines or transformer stations.
a
b