Occupational dust exposure was associated with increased rate of MS, particularly in combination with smoking and HLA-DRB1*15:01, suggesting joint effects of occupational, environmental, and genetic risk factors. The reliance on self-reported occupational histories and potential residual confounding are important limitations. Further studies are warranted to clarify underlying mechanisms and to inform preventive strategies.
Alfredsson et al. (Fri,) studied this question.