In Sweden, approximately 220 people are diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) yearly. In 90% of the cases, the cause seems to be a combination of mutations and environmental risk factors, such as exposure to chemicals, head trauma, extreme physical exercise and electromagnetic radiation. Studies have found a correlation between elevated levels of lead in blood and increased risk of ALS among US veterans. However, the occurrence of ALS among professional shooters or recreational shooters has not been made clear. There is a small but significant risk increase for ALS in workers with prolonged occupational exposure to pesticides. However, military personnel are not considered to have prolonged exposure of pesticides. There is a slight increase in risk of ALS in workers who are continuously exposed to low frequency electromagnetic radiation. However, it is unclear whether electromagnetic radiation increases the risk of ALS among military personnel. Studies indicate an increase in ALS among persons exposed to hard physical exertion and/or repeated mild trauma. It is possible that this type of exposure may cause the type of improper protein folding associated with the onset of ALS. Military service members are exposed to low-grade, sometimes prolonged and parallel, exposure to several environmental risk factors. It is possible that multifactorial exposures increase the risk of developing ALS. The environmental sampling around Camp Nobel, Mali does not indicate the presence of cyanobacteria.