ALS link extends to other military conflicts

Despite recent studies suggesting a link between Gulf War service and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a new study suggests that military personnel have an increased risk of ALS mortality regardless of the war or branch of military in which they served.Dr Weisskopf and colleagues prospectively assessed the relationship between military service and ALS mortality among participants in the US Cancer Prevention Study II cohort. Participants were followed from 1989 to 1998 for ALS mortality. Sixty-three of 126,414 men who did not serve in the military died from ALS, compared to 217 of 281,874 men with a military background, resulting in an increased death rate from ALS for those who had served in the military (RR 1.53). The higher mortality rate occurred in nearly all branches of the military, including the Army and National Guard, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard, although there was no increased risk in those who served in the Marine Corps. The mortality rate was similar among those who served in the military during World War II, Korea or Vietnam and was largely independent of the number of years served.The authors point out that the military service reported by the cohort was all before the first Gulf War. They say, "Thus, our results are effectively independent of Gulf War military service and suggest that the association reported between ALS and service in the Gulf War may extend to other military conflicts." The authors suggest a range of possible etiologic agents that are not specific to a particular time period or conflict, including the insect repellant DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) and aerosolized lead inhalation, from firing of weapons or military vehicle-finishing operations. Other common factors for military personnel may include other chemicals, traumatic injury, some viral infections and intense physical activity. Reference...