Multiple sclerosis incidence associated with the soil lead and arsenic concentrations in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Few studies in the world have assessed the incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) with soil heavy metal concentrations. We explored the association of soil heavy metal factors and the MS incidence in Taiwan. METHODS: There were 1240 new MS cases from the National Health Insurance Research...

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Main Authors: Ching-Piao Tsai, Charles Tzu-Chi Lee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2013-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3684615?pdf=render
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author Ching-Piao Tsai
Charles Tzu-Chi Lee
author_facet Ching-Piao Tsai
Charles Tzu-Chi Lee
author_sort Ching-Piao Tsai
collection DOAJ
description BACKGROUND: Few studies in the world have assessed the incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) with soil heavy metal concentrations. We explored the association of soil heavy metal factors and the MS incidence in Taiwan. METHODS: There were 1240 new MS cases from the National Health Insurance Research Database and were verified with serious disabling disease certificates, 1997-2008. Soil heavy metal factors records included arsenic, mercury, cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, lead and zinc in Taiwan from 1986 to 2002. Spatial regression was used to reveal the association of soil heavy metals and age- and gender-standardized incidence ratios for townships by controlling sunlight exposure hours, smoking prevalence and spatial autocorrelation. RESULTS: The lead (Pb) concentration in the soil positively correlated with the township incidence; on the other hand, the arsenic (As) concentration in soil negatively correlated with the township incidence and when found together controlled each other. The positive correlation of lead (Pb) predominated in males, whereas the negative correlation of arsenic (As) in soil predominated in females. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that exposure to lead (Pb) in soil positive associated with incidence of MS in Taiwan, especially in males. Exposure to arsenic (As) in soil negative associated with MS in Taiwan, especially in females.
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spelling doaj.art-de7de24c5f974a1a86f1a137ee7aa2fa2022-12-22T03:09:07ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032013-01-0186e6591110.1371/journal.pone.0065911Multiple sclerosis incidence associated with the soil lead and arsenic concentrations in Taiwan.Ching-Piao TsaiCharles Tzu-Chi LeeBACKGROUND: Few studies in the world have assessed the incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) with soil heavy metal concentrations. We explored the association of soil heavy metal factors and the MS incidence in Taiwan. METHODS: There were 1240 new MS cases from the National Health Insurance Research Database and were verified with serious disabling disease certificates, 1997-2008. Soil heavy metal factors records included arsenic, mercury, cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, lead and zinc in Taiwan from 1986 to 2002. Spatial regression was used to reveal the association of soil heavy metals and age- and gender-standardized incidence ratios for townships by controlling sunlight exposure hours, smoking prevalence and spatial autocorrelation. RESULTS: The lead (Pb) concentration in the soil positively correlated with the township incidence; on the other hand, the arsenic (As) concentration in soil negatively correlated with the township incidence and when found together controlled each other. The positive correlation of lead (Pb) predominated in males, whereas the negative correlation of arsenic (As) in soil predominated in females. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that exposure to lead (Pb) in soil positive associated with incidence of MS in Taiwan, especially in males. Exposure to arsenic (As) in soil negative associated with MS in Taiwan, especially in females.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3684615?pdf=render
spellingShingle Ching-Piao Tsai
Charles Tzu-Chi Lee
Multiple sclerosis incidence associated with the soil lead and arsenic concentrations in Taiwan.
PLoS ONE
title Multiple sclerosis incidence associated with the soil lead and arsenic concentrations in Taiwan.
title_full Multiple sclerosis incidence associated with the soil lead and arsenic concentrations in Taiwan.
title_fullStr Multiple sclerosis incidence associated with the soil lead and arsenic concentrations in Taiwan.
title_full_unstemmed Multiple sclerosis incidence associated with the soil lead and arsenic concentrations in Taiwan.
title_short Multiple sclerosis incidence associated with the soil lead and arsenic concentrations in Taiwan.
title_sort multiple sclerosis incidence associated with the soil lead and arsenic concentrations in taiwan
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3684615?pdf=render
work_keys_str_mv AT chingpiaotsai multiplesclerosisincidenceassociatedwiththesoilleadandarsenicconcentrationsintaiwan
AT charlestzuchilee multiplesclerosisincidenceassociatedwiththesoilleadandarsenicconcentrationsintaiwan