Parkinson’s Disease and Pesticides

It seems that men exposed to pesticides in their work are more than twice as likely to develop Parkinson’s disease as those not exposed. Mayo Clinic researchers examined data from all the residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, who developed Parkinson’s between 1976 and 1995. There were 202 such cases; they were matched with control people (same age, same sex, no Parkinson’s), and all were asked about exposure to potentially toxic chemicals: insecticides, herbicides, paints, varnishes, stains, cleaning products, gasoline, petroleum derivatives, asbestos, glues, and printing products.

Combined pesticide exposure related to farming, landscaping, or gardening was associated with a 2.4-times likelihood of Parkinson’s in men (who made up 60% of the cases), though not in women. And none of the other chemical types listed had any such association in either sex.

Toxins can cause a condition like Parkinson’s disease in animals, but this is the first report to place such a burden of blame on pesticides. It’s a good reason to read the label, and follow all the recommended precautions.