Exposure to petroleum-based lubricants at work associated with multiple sclerosis risk
Exposure to petroleum-derived lubricants at work, including engine oil, hydraulic oil and cutting fluids used to cool or lubricate metal during metalworking, is associated with higher odds of multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a study published in Neurology. The study does not prove that exposure to these lubricants causes MS. It only shows an association.
A study published in the medical journal Neurology has found that exposure to certain petroleum-based lubricants at work may be associated with a higher risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS). The research, conducted by Dr. Anna Karin Hedström of Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden, involved over 8,000 individuals. It discovered that those who had occupational exposure to lubricants like engine oil, hydraulic oil, cutting fluids, and concrete form oil had 38% higher odds of MS compared to those without such exposure.
The risk increased with longer and more intense exposure, with each additional year and hour of exposure per week raising the odds by 2%. The association remained even when accounting for factors like smoking and genetics. However, the study's findings cannot definitively prove causation and should be confirmed in future research.
Written by urgent.news from Medical Xpress's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
