For Immediate Release:
Sept. 5, 2006

Contact:
Nanci Gonder
Office of Public Information
573-751-6062

Study of ALS and MS in Jefferson County Yields Mixed Findings
Results to be Discussed at a September 7 Public Meeting

A recently completed study of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) prevalence in Jefferson County found a small but statistically significant grouping of ALS cases in Herculaneum, though the overall prevalence of ALS was not higher for the county when compared to national and international data. The study also found that the prevalence of MS in the county is not higher than the national average. Disease prevalence is measured in cases per 100,000 population.

The study, funded by the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and conducted by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), was initiated in response to public concerns expressed about the number of Herculaneum residents with ALS or MS. Residents are concerned that they are being affected by releases from an active lead smelter in the community.

DHSS researchers conducted an extensive search of medical records from Jefferson County residents to look for persons with ALS and MS. This search was conducted to determine if there were more cases of these diseases in the county than would be expected when compared to national or international data.

The search found the ALS prevalence in Jefferson County to be 3.9 cases per 100,000 population. Elsewhere in the U.S. and the world, the overall ALS prevalence is 4 to 6 cases per 100,000. For MS, the prevalence in Jefferson County was 105 per 100,000 population, which falls within the range of national MS prevalence of 39 to 173 cases per 100,000.

This study also identified a small but statistically significant grouping of three ALS cases living within one to one and a half miles of the lead smelter. These people do not live close to each other, nor are they members of the same immediate family. However, it must be emphasized that this study was not designed to determine the role that lead or other risk factors played in the development of these diseases.

DHSS, in collaboration with ATSDR and other state health departments, has submitted a grant proposal to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) seeking funding for a follow-up ALS study. If funding is approved, the second study will investigate whether lead exposure is associated with the development of ALS.

These results will be discussed in detail during a public meeting September 7 in Herculaneum. The meeting will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Herculaneum High School auditorium. Leading the presentation will be Dr. Bao-Ping Zhu, M.D., Missouri state epidemiologist. Also on hand to answer questions will be Dr. George Turabelidze, M.D., DHSS medical epidemiologist and study leader.

Fact sheets about the ALS/MS study will be available at the September 7 meeting, and can be accessed on the DHSS web site at http://www.dhss.mo.gov. Anyone interested in more in-depth information about the study may contact any of the following: Dr. Zhu, 573-751-6128, e-mail: BaoPing.Zhu@dhss.mo.gov; Dr. Turabelidze, 314-877-2826, e-mail: George.Turabelidze@dhss.mo.gov; Dennis Diehl, Jefferson County Health Department administrator, 636-789-3373; Denise Jordan-Izaguirre, Senior Regional Representative, ATSDR Region VII, 913-551-1310, e-mail: Jordan-Izaguirr.Denise@epamail.epa.gov.