MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS AND ORGANIC-SOLVENTS

We investigated a possible causal relation between exposure to organic solvents in Danish workers (housepainters, typographers/printers, car penters/cabinetmakers) and onset of multiple sclerosis. Data on men in cluded in the Danish Multiple Sclerosis Register (3,241 men) were link ed with data from the 1970 census from the National Bureau of Statisti cs in Denmark, which has data on occupational status for 1,768,846 men between 15 and 74 years of age. From this census, we ascertained a gr oup of 124,766 ''solvent exposed'' men and an ''unexposed'' group of 8 7,501 male electricians, bricklayers, and butchers. Over a follow-up p eriod of 20 years, we observed no increase in the incidence of multipl e sclerosis among men presumed to be exposed to organic solvents. It w as not possible to obtain data on potential confounders, and the study design has some potential for selection bias. Nevertheless, the study does not support existing hypotheses regarding an association between occupational exposure to organic solvents and multiple sclerosis.