4 ms·

Golf, and other men's hobbies, drive an increase in ALS risk

Gys 3y ago
> While a definitive cause for the condition hasn't been identified, studies have increasingly suggested that the condition is caused by a combination of genetic susceptibility and environmental exposure to things like pesticides and heavy metals.
nothercastle 3y ago
ALS increases in men who have money and hobbies. Wtf study is that? Stinks of 3rd factor problem
- infecto 3y ago
  Did you read the actual study paper? Sounds like the study is suggesting they are noticing that certain hobbies increase the risk and suggesting that perhaps these other types of hobbies should be accounted for in the ALS exposome. Less about the hobby itself and more that you are getting a nice dose of pesticides by going to the golfing green.
  - nothercastle 3y ago
    Except the list of hobbies is basically all the common men’s hobbies. It’s not just golf.
    - readthenotes1 3y ago
      We need a study on competitive sailing and polo
infecto 3y ago
The title is a bit sensationalized but it is the title for the linked article. - Participation in certain hobbies and avocational activities alters ALS risk. - Avocational activities should be included in ALS exposome studies. - Certain exercise, hobbies, and avocational ALS risk factors are sex-specific. https://www.jns-journal.com/article/S0022-510X(24)00034-0/abstract https://www.jns-journal.com/article/S0022-510X(24)00034-0/ab...
fylham 3y ago
I think it’s worth putting the scary-sounding 300% into context: the CDC says prevalence is 9/100,000. Even tripled, it is a very unlikely outcome for a given man. Which means I’m probably not going to give up woodworking over this (however I will redouble my existing efforts on dust collection).
- infecto 3y ago
  I wonder when cutting any type of glued/engineered wood, if its not just the dust but chemicals in the adhesives getting vaporized when cut.
mauvehaus 3y ago
If you're wondering how in the hell woodworking exposes you to formaldehyde, the answer is that it's in some glues. In particular: urea-formaldehyde glued are used in the manufacture of sheet goods: plywood, OSB, MDF, etc. UF glue is also used in some veneer and lamination work because it gives a hard glue line (unlike yellow wood glues). That reduces springback on bent lamination work. I believe it also has a longer open time than most other adhesives used in woodworking. A long open time is really nice if you're doing bent lamination. My go-to is liquid hide glue for bent lam and veneer work. It also has a pretty hard glue line and a better open time than hot hide glue, though likely worse than something specifically formulated for a long open time. It's a tradeoff.
- infecto 3y ago
  Ahah that makes sense. I was grasping at things like heavy metals present in the tree itself.
  - mauvehaus 3y ago
    There are also metallic driers in some finishes. AIUI, lead compounds aren't used for that purpose any more[0], but other metallic salts are: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_drying_agent https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_drying_agent I am a furniture maker, not a chemist or an industrial hygienist. Please don't take my word as gospel on any of this. [0] Which is a distinct use from the lead pigments used in lead-based paint, like white lead.
maztaim 3y ago
…As I golf, swim, garden and woodwork… I sort of understand it, but dammit, I’m enjoying my life. I think we exist in a world inundated with chemicals. Don’t do these activities and I bet you there is some other disease that gets an increased risk.
- DougN7 3y ago
  I suspect staying inside, relatively inactive, surrounded by plastics, foam in furniture, paint, and other chemicals is probably worse, but it’s just a hunch. In the end, none of us get out of here alive.
pylua 3y ago
It’s odd that it only affects men. Is it possible that men just spend more time with these hobbies ?

Gys 3y ago

> While a definitive cause for the condition hasn't been identified, studies have increasingly suggested that the condition is caused by a combination of genetic susceptibility and environmental exposure to things like pesticides and heavy metals.

nothercastle 3y ago

ALS increases in men who have money and hobbies. Wtf study is that? Stinks of 3rd factor problem

infecto 3y ago
Did you read the actual study paper? Sounds like the study is suggesting they are noticing that certain hobbies increase the risk and suggesting that perhaps these other types of hobbies should be accounted for in the ALS exposome. Less about the hobby itself and more that you are getting a nice dose of pesticides by going to the golfing green.
- nothercastle 3y ago
  Except the list of hobbies is basically all the common men’s hobbies. It’s not just golf.
  - readthenotes1 3y ago
    We need a study on competitive sailing and polo

infecto 3y ago

The title is a bit sensationalized but it is the title for the linked article. - Participation in certain hobbies and avocational activities alters ALS risk. - Avocational activities should be included in ALS exposome studies. - Certain exercise, hobbies, and avocational ALS risk factors are sex-specific. https://www.jns-journal.com/article/S0022-510X(24)00034-0/abstract https://www.jns-journal.com/article/S0022-510X(24)00034-0/ab...

fylham 3y ago

I think it’s worth putting the scary-sounding 300% into context: the CDC says prevalence is 9/100,000. Even tripled, it is a very unlikely outcome for a given man. Which means I’m probably not going to give up woodworking over this (however I will redouble my existing efforts on dust collection).

infecto 3y ago
I wonder when cutting any type of glued/engineered wood, if its not just the dust but chemicals in the adhesives getting vaporized when cut.

mauvehaus 3y ago

If you're wondering how in the hell woodworking exposes you to formaldehyde, the answer is that it's in some glues. In particular: urea-formaldehyde glued are used in the manufacture of sheet goods: plywood, OSB, MDF, etc. UF glue is also used in some veneer and lamination work because it gives a hard glue line (unlike yellow wood glues). That reduces springback on bent lamination work. I believe it also has a longer open time than most other adhesives used in woodworking. A long open time is really nice if you're doing bent lamination. My go-to is liquid hide glue for bent lam and veneer work. It also has a pretty hard glue line and a better open time than hot hide glue, though likely worse than something specifically formulated for a long open time. It's a tradeoff.

infecto 3y ago
Ahah that makes sense. I was grasping at things like heavy metals present in the tree itself.
- mauvehaus 3y ago
  There are also metallic driers in some finishes. AIUI, lead compounds aren't used for that purpose any more[0], but other metallic salts are: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_drying_agent https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_drying_agent I am a furniture maker, not a chemist or an industrial hygienist. Please don't take my word as gospel on any of this. [0] Which is a distinct use from the lead pigments used in lead-based paint, like white lead.

maztaim 3y ago

…As I golf, swim, garden and woodwork… I sort of understand it, but dammit, I’m enjoying my life. I think we exist in a world inundated with chemicals. Don’t do these activities and I bet you there is some other disease that gets an increased risk.

DougN7 3y ago
I suspect staying inside, relatively inactive, surrounded by plastics, foam in furniture, paint, and other chemicals is probably worse, but it’s just a hunch. In the end, none of us get out of here alive.

pylua 3y ago

It’s odd that it only affects men. Is it possible that men just spend more time with these hobbies ?