REVIEW PAPER
Risk agents related to work
and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis:
An occupational medicine focus
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Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
(Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Hygiene, Occupational Medicine and Forensic Medicine, Occupational Medicine Area)
Corresponding author
Elpidio Maria Garzillo
Second University of Naples, Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Hygiene, Occupational Medicine and Forensic Medicine, Occupational Medicine Area, Via L. de Crecchio 7, 80138 Naples, Italy
Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2016;29(3):355-67
KEYWORDS
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ABSTRACT
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive muscular paralysis reflecting
degeneration of motor neurons. In recent years, in addition to several studies about genetic mechanisms leading
to motor neurons damage, various epigenetic theories have been developed, involving the study of the patients’ work and
lifestyle. The work aims at focusing the role of occupational exposure related to ALS by literature data analysis. Articles,
selected on the basis of keywords, year of publication and topics, are related to occupational exposure, suggesting an impact
on ALS onset. The literature review shows that there are still a lot of biases in the studies design, which actually do not allow
to draw unequivocal conclusions.