Golf, and other men's hobbies, drive an increase in ALS risk | Hacker News Reader

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

newatlas.com

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.

Ahah that makes sense. I was grasping at things like heavy metals present in the tree itself.

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

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.

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/ab...

> 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.

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).

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.

…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.

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.

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

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

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.

Except the list of hobbies is basically all the common men’s hobbies. It’s not just golf.

We need a study on competitive sailing and polo

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