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.