To investigate if there is an increase in the prevalence of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) among patients indirectly exposed to higher levels of hazardous wastes.

Residences near hazardous waste sites have been associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

ALS patients were retrieved from the New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS) database from 1998 - 2014 using ALS ICD9 code (335.20) as the primary diagnosis. The registry containing designated hazardous waste sites (POPs) was retrieved from the New York State Department of Health. POPs were classified as either POP 1, POP2, or POP3, with POP3 having the highest number of POPs. We also compared the prevalence of ALS among groups with different levels of exposure to that of the general NY population.

We identified 3,768 ALS in the SPARCS database. Of the total population, 8,570,735 (44.54%) residents resided near at least one POP. Of the 3,768 patients, 1734 (46.02%) patients resided near at least one POP. The prevalence of ALS was not significantly increased near a POP compared to non-POPs (1.19 per 100,000 vs 1.121 per 100,000 p=0.6581>0.05). The prevalence of ALS was not significantly increased compared to the NY state population (Non-POP 1.19 per 100,000; POP 1 1.199 per 100,000; POP2 1.002 per 100,000; POP3 1.247 per 100,000 p<0.0001).

The gender of ALS patients in POPs was not significantly different compared to non-POPs (p=0.9556>0.05). The race of ALS patients in POPs was not significantly different to non-POPs (p=0.1022>0.05). The ethnicity of ALS patients in POPs was not significantly different compared to non-POPs (p=0.9424>0.05). The age of ALS patients in POPs was not significantly different compared non-POPs (mean age=63.49±13.66 p=0.5556>0.05).