Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Study Suggests Link Between Occupational Chemical Exposure and Parkinson’s Risk


Findings of a research report suggest that repeated occupational exposure to certain chemical solvents increases the risk for Parkinson’s disease. In a study that analyzed the occupational histories of twins in which one developed the disorder, researchers concluded that two common chemical solvents, trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PERC), are significantly linked to development of Parkinson’s. The study, supported in part by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), appears in the Nov. 14, 2011, issue of Annals of Neurology.

“The potential importance is great, since both solvents persist in the environment and are commonly used,” says researcher Samuel Goldman, M.D., M.P.H. “Parkinson’s was sixfold more common in twins exposed to TCE, and ninefold more common in twins exposed to TCE or PERC.” There was also a trend toward a tenfold increase in Parkinson’s disease in twins exposed to PERC alone.