Relationships between the prevalence of multiple sclerosis and some physical and chemical properties of soil.

The prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) and some physical and chemical properties of soil in two counties of Finland have been compared. In the county where the MS prevalence rate was significantly higher, the pH of the soil was lower, the organic carbon content higher, the concentration of soluble iron, zinc, chromium and aluminium higher and those of soluble potassium, calcium, magnesium, strontium and total selenium lower than in the county with the lower MS-prevalence rate. According to the literature, areas of a high MS prevalence correspond rather closely to the global distribution of mires, particularly to raised bogs in the northern hemisphere.