In the past ten years, a team from the University of Michigan has been studying how being around harmful chemicals affects our health.
They’ve been looking at all sorts of chemicals, from those used on farms to those found in factories, and how they might relate to a disease called ALS.
ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a serious condition that affects the nerves in the brain and spinal cord, making it hard for people to move, speak, and eventually breathe.
The researchers noticed that not only do these chemicals come from workplaces, but also from hobbies like making things out of wood or gardening. They call the sum of all these exposures the “ALS exposome.”
Recently, they discovered something new. People who keep chemicals in their home garages might have a higher chance of getting ALS. This finding was shared in a study by Michigan Medicine and highlights the importance of understanding what might increase the risk of ALS.
Stephen Goutman, one of the lead researchers, explained that figuring out what triggers diseases like ALS is crucial. It can help us find ways to avoid these risks and reduce the number of people who get sick.
Since a lot of us store things like gasoline, lawn care products, and paints in our garages, it’s a part of our home life where we might be able to make changes.
The study looked at over 600 people, some with ALS and some without. They found that keeping things like gasoline, pesticides, and paints in the garage was linked to a higher risk of ALS. This risk was especially notable for garages attached to the house.
The reason attached garages are more concerning is that the air from the garage often finds its way into the living spaces of the home, especially in colder weather.
When you open the door to the house, for example, air from the garage rushes in. This can happen continuously through small openings and cracks.
To deal with this issue, newer building codes recommend ways to stop garage air from mixing with house air.
These efforts are part of a larger attempt to understand all the different factors that might increase the risk of ALS. The researchers are curious if the risk comes more from the activities themselves, like woodworking or gardening, or from the chemicals used in these activities.
Previous studies by the same team found higher levels of pesticides in the blood of people with ALS compared to those without. They also linked certain pesticides and chemicals to a worse outlook for those with ALS.
The goal now is to build on these findings to get a clearer picture of how these chemical exposures might lead to ALS.
At the same time, there’s a push to officially report ALS cases to gather more information on what increases the risk. The hope is to eventually cut down on exposures that could lead to ALS, making homes and workplaces safer for everyone.
If you care about wellness, please read studies about how ultra-processed foods and red meat influence your longevity, and why seafood may boost healthy aging.
For more information about wellness, please see recent studies that olive oil may help you live longer, and vitamin D could help lower the risk of autoimmune diseases.
The research findings can be found in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration.
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