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Pesticides may contribute to the development Parkinson's disease, suggests new research published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Parkinson's disease is a degenerative condition of the neurological system that can lead to tremor, unstable posture, slow and rigid movements, and other serious problems. Its exact cause is not known but doctors and researchers believe it is probably caused by a variety of factors, including environmental.
The "Geoparkinson" study looked at the role of pesticides, solvents, iron, copper, and manganese in Parkinson's disease and other degenerative conditions that have symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease. Participants included 959 people who had Parkinson's disease or a similar neurological condition (767 had Parkinson's disease) and 1,989 people who did not have such a condition.
Through interviews and questionnaires that evaluated exposure to these substances, the study's authors found that people who had a higher exposure to pesticides were more likely to have Parkinson's disease than those with lower exposure. Working with pesticides (as opposed to recreational or hobby exposure) was the greatest risk. The risk for Parkinson's disease was stronger with exposure to pesticides when compared with solvents and metals, which was a statistically significant finding. The authors point out that an association between solvents or metals and Parkinson's disease has not been adequately studied, and further research is needed in this area.
"The Geoparkinson study provides further evidence of an association between pesticide exposure and Parkinson's disease although we were unable to identify which pesticide is associated with this increase in disease risk," said Finlay Dick, MD, lead author of the study and a senior lecturer in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine at the University of Aberdeen, UK. "Parkinson's disease is uncommon and our study has shown a modest increase in risk among people who report exposure to pesticides."
