ALS linked to Lakes and ponds in NH

acarroll · 06-09-2009, 07:10 PM

Has anyone heard about research linking ALS to lakes and ponds?
There was an article in Sunday's Manchester, NH's Union Leader saying that several lakes and ponds in NH are being tested because cases of ALS are 25 times higher in residents living near them.
I lost my Uncle to ALS 3 years ago. He grew up on a lake in NH. I'm astounded by this discovery.
I wonder how many people in this web community with ALS fall into that category.

Here is a link to the article
http://www.unionleader.com/article.a...6-823c9263aa43

lydia · 06-10-2009, 07:52 AM

That was very interesting....

nishant · 06-10-2009, 06:13 PM

There is a similar story here in Madison, WI. I was talking to a fellow PALS who lives on eas site of Madison. She told me that near her house (within 2 mile or so radius) there are 5 people with ALS. So much coincidence for a rare disease.

acarroll · 06-10-2009, 10:01 PM

nishant,
Are they doing any testing of that water?

BarryG · 06-10-2009, 10:48 PM

This is the same thing as what JamesMcC talked about a little while ago, cyanobacteria as the or one of the causes of ALS in some people.

nishant · 06-11-2009, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acarroll

nishant,
Are they doing any testing of that water?

I don't know. Se told me that she has informed the hospital about it. I hope they do something about it.

Willow · 06-11-2009, 09:21 AM

This is really very interesting, especially since we have ponds that I maintain. While "blooms" were always unsighly for the ponds I never realized they had these potential health concerns.
I googled the term BarryG referred to, cyanobacteria, and there are some interesting articles about this. It appears to be a more immediate reaction (vomitting, skin irritation etc.) concerns, but there could be concerns for long term exposure.

Here is link to a CDC article about it;
http://www.cdc.gov/hab/cyanobacteria/facts.htm

And here is a link to a Health Canada article;
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/pubs...bacter-eng.php

The links may not show up till after Al or other moderators can check them.

Ronelle · 06-11-2009, 01:20 PM

This is very interesting! I have lived in Welkom South Africa for 40 years(I am 43 years now). We have two lakes on the outskirts of Welkom about 1-3 km from where I have been living. These lakes are covered in summer with pea-greenscum algae caused by cyanobacteria. Our main watersource also have this problem. Our drinking water have been declared "safe" although none of us believe it. Our drinking water even smells of algae. We have swam, played, waterski and windsurfed in that lakes!!! And now I have ALS............ If there is a connection, I want to know!

cyennaco · 06-12-2009, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acarroll

Has anyone heard about research linking ALS to lakes and ponds?
There was an article in Sunday's Manchester, NH's Union Leader saying that several lakes and ponds in NH are being tested because cases of ALS are 25 times higher in residents living near them.
I lost my Uncle to ALS 3 years ago. He grew up on a lake in NH. I'm astounded by this discovery.
I wonder how many people in this web community with ALS fall into that category.

Here is a link to the article
http://www.unionleader.com/article.a...6-823c9263aa43

Hi,
This is my first time on. My mom has been 95% diagnosed with ALS. And, we live in NH, and have lived on the lake or enjoyed the lake in our town our whole lives and there are 2 others that have passed in the last few years from ALS. Along with a 3rd person in town. This seems funny. And, I thought this before I saw this article. Also, my mom had a home on another lake across the street from Mirror Lake mentioned in the article. I am very concerned.

cyennaco · 06-12-2009, 09:26 PM

Hi,
This is my first time to this forum. My mom has been 95% diagnosed with ALS. We live in NH and I saw this article. But, I was already concerned because there are 2 others that have died with in two houses of each other and I was wondering if because they were close to the lake and my mom grew up on the lake (along with my dad, my siblings and I and now my kids) if there is reason to be concern. There is also a 3rd woman who also has passed from ALS and her business was right down the street. My mom also had a home across from Mirror Lake mentioned in this article. I am concerned.