Pesticides raise ALS risk up to 71%

A new study linking pesticide exposure to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) found that workers exposed to these chemicals have a 61%‑71% higher chance of developing the disease compared with non‑exposed individuals. The risk rises with greater exposure and is especially pronounced in men, whose odds of ALS are roughly double when working with pesticides. Researchers reviewed data from the past 35 years across multiple regions and highlighted herbicides such as glyphosate and atrazine as having the strongest associations with ALS. The analysis notes that about 35,000 Americans are estimated to live with ALS, a fatal neurodegenerative disorder where roughly 80% of patients die within five years of diagnosis. While the exact cause of ALS remains unclear, the findings strengthen the hypothesis that certain pesticides may contribute to its onset, prompting calls for further investigation and possible regulatory review.