Occupational and Environmental risk factors for Motor Neurone Disease

The aims of this project are:

1. To describe the epidemiology of motor neurone disease (MND) in New Zealand
2. To estimate the proportion of cases of MND in New Zealand that are due to occupational exposures previously observed (including electrical injury/electrical occupations/EMFs, veterinarians, radio/dental/MD/x-ray/laboratory technician, cutting/cooling or lubricating oils, antifreeze or coolants, agricultural chemicals, welding and/or soldering, metals including lead, aluminium and iron, organic solvents, and methyl bromide)
3. To estimate the proportion of cases of MND in New Zealand that are due to personal and lifestyle factors previously observed (including smoking, increasing age, family history of MND, education level attained, and participation in sports with a risk of head injuries)
4. To estimate the proportion of cases of MND in New Zealand that are due to environmental exposures previously observed (including fumigants such as methyl bromide, other agricultural chemicals; rural or urban residence)
5. To identify new occupational, personal and lifestyle factors, and environmental exposures that are risk factors for developing MND

RELATED PUBLICATIONS

Chen G, McLean D, 't Mannetje A, D'Souza W, McConnell M, van den Berg L, Kromhout H, Pearce N, Douwes J, Huss A, Vermeulen R. (2016) Occupational exposure to ELF-MF and electric shocks and Motor Neurone Disease. 25th Epidemiology in Occupational Health Conference 2016, 4-7 September, Barcelona, Spain (Poster).
McLean D, Chen G, 't Mannetje A, D'Souza W, McConnell M, van den Berg L, Kromhout H, Pearce N, Douwes J. (2016) Occupational Risk Factors for Motor Neurone Disease: A New Zealand Population-Based Case-Control Study. 25th Epidemiology in Occupational Health Conference 2016, 4-7 September, Barcelona, Spain.
Chen G, 't Mannetje A, Douwes J, van den Berg L, Pearce N, Kromhout H, D'Souza W, McConnell M, Brewer N, McLean D. (2018) Occupation and Motor Neurone Disease. A New Zealand population –based case-control study. QMB/AWCBR Rare Brain Disease 2018 Conference. 30 Aug, Queenstown, NZ.
Chen G, 't Mannetje A, Douwes J, van den Berg L, Pearce N, Kromhout H, D'Souza W, McConnell M, Glass B, Brewer N, McLean D. Occupation and Motor Neurone Disease: A New Zealand Case-Control Study. Occup Environ Med, 2019; 76(5): 309-316.
Chen G, 't Mannetje A, Douwes J, van den Berg L, McLean D, Pearce N, Kromhout H, D'Souza W, McConnell M. (2019) Self-report occupational exposures and MND in New Zealand. 27th International Symposium on Epidemiology in Occupational Health (EPICOH 2019). 29 Apr-2 May, Wellington, NZ. Occ Environ Med, 2019; 76(1): A59.
Chen G. Occupational Links. Safeguard, Sep/Oct 2019.
Chen G, 't Mannetje A, Douwes J, Berg L, Pearce N, Kromhout H, Glass B, Brewer N, McLean D. Associations of occupational exposure to electric shocks and extremely low-frequency magnetic fields and motor neurone disease. Am J Epidemiology, 2021; 91(3): 393-402.