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Household Chemical Exposure and Risk of MS in Children

Several genetic and environmental risks have been associated with MS. Some of the environmental risks that have been explored include Vitamin D levels, EBV infection, cigarette smoking, toxin exposure among others.

In a recently published study, the authors examined exposure to household chemicals and the risk of pediatric MS.

561 pediatric MS patients ( diagnosed before the age of 18 years) and 644 controls ( children who do not have MS) from 16 pediatric MS centers in the US participated in this study to identify any potential associations. Patients had to fill out comprehensive questionnaires which collected data on various kinds of chemical exposures and the times of exposure ( pre-natal period, pregnancy, periods of childhood exposure).

Their findings suggest that childhood exposure to rodenticides, weed control products, and plant/tree insect or disease control products were associated with pediatric MS.

Further studies would be needed to identify if the association was indeed causal and potential mechanisms injury.

The full article can be found at - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6292189/

By 

Jai Perumal

Weill Cornell Medicine Multiple Sclerosis Center 1305 York Ave., Second Floor New York, NY 10021