The relationship between the soil cadmium and multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Background: Surveying the interrelationships between the environment and human health says about the human health. So, surveying how environmental factors affect the environment and ultimately human health is the concern of geologists and medical ecologists. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating disease which cause is unknown yet. This research aimed to to use geographic information systems (GIS) to explore a possible link between the disease and environmental factors. Methods: In this study, several soil samples were taken from Najaf Abad, Mobarake and Lenjan Counties (West of Isfahan, Iran). The level of cadmium concentration was measured via atomic absorption spectrophotometer model “Pye Unicam, SPQ”. In addition, the epidemiology of multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2012 was obtained from Isfahan Health Center and the blood samples of 15 patients were tested for heavy metals. Finally, using Geographic Information System software, the distribution map of cadmium and the disease was drawn. Findings: A significant portion of multiple sclerosis was consistent with soil cadmium distribution in the study areas. Conclusion: The mapping showed that areas with a high prevalence of multiple sclerosis are highly consistent with contaminations such as cadmium. This adaptation shows the disease association with environmental factors and contaminations. © 2015, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.