Exposure to the widely used chemical formaldehyde can raise your risk of getting amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
A large study examining possible associations between ALS and 12 types of chemicals turned up the link. While there was no significant link between ALS and most chemicals, including pesticides and herbicides, people who had been regularly exposed to formaldehyde were 34 percent more likely to develop ALS.
People with certain jobs, often with a high formaldehyde risk exposure, also seemed to have a much higher risk for ALS, including beauticians, pharmacists, morticians, chemists, lab technicians, dentists, firefighters, photographers, printers, nurses, doctors and veterinarians.