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. 2012 Jun;13(4):347-50.
doi: 10.3109/17482968.2012.674140.

An increase in ALS incidence on the Kii Peninsula, 1960-2009: a possible link to change in drinking water source

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Free PMC article

An increase in ALS incidence on the Kii Peninsula, 1960-2009: a possible link to change in drinking water source

Tameko Kihira et al. Amyotroph Lateral Scler. 2012 Jun.
Free PMC article

Abstract

We investigated changes in the incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in the Koza/Kozagawa/Kushimoto area (K. area) in the Kii Peninsula, Japan in 1960-2009. Probable and definite ALS cases diagnosed using El Escorial criteria were collected during a five-decade period: period I-V, 1960-2009. Forty-three ALS patients matched the selection criteria in the overall K. area, including three patients on Oshima, a small island opposite the mainland K. area. The age- and gender-adjusted incidence of ALS in the overall K. area (standardized for the 2005 Japanese population) decreased from 5.47/100,000 (95% CI 1.86-9.08) in period I to 0.61/100,000 (95% CI-0.28-1.50) in period III, and then increased to 4.39/100,000 (95% CI 1.70-7.07) in period V. On Oshima, the age- and gender-adjusted incidence of ALS was 9.45/100,000 (95% CI-7.39-26.29) in period V. The present research indicates an increase of ALS incidence in the K. area, especially on Oshima. A limitation of this study was the small population.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Geography of Koza/Kozagawa/Kushimoto area and Oshima, and distribution of patients with ALS. Patients with ALS between 1960 and 1969 (period I: o), between 1970 and 1979 (period II: Δ): between 1980 and 1989 (period III: □しろいしかく), between 1990 and 1999 (period IV: ☆), and between 2000 and 2009 (period V: •) were plotted. *: ALS/PDC
Figure 2
Figure 2
Changes in incidence of ALS in the overall Koza/Kozagawa/Kushimoto (K.) area and Oshima between 1960 and 2009. Comparing the incidence by the periods, the age- and gender-adjusted incidence of ALS in the overall K. area for the 2005 Japanese population was 5.47/100,000 (95% CI 1.86–9.08), male: 8.29/100,000 (95% CI 1.84–14.73), female: 2.98/100,000 (95% CI-0.69–6.66) in period I, markedly decreased to 0.61/100,000 (95% CI-0.28–1.50), male: 1.36/100,000 (95% CI-0.58–3.30), female: 0 in period III, but recently increased again to 4.39/100,000 (95% CI 1.70–7.07), male: 4.01/100,000 (95% CI 0.22–7.81), female: 4.71/100,000 (95% CI 0.93–8.49) in period V.

References

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