Scientists examining links between hundreds of commonly used pesticides and neurodegenerative Parkinson’s disease have reported 10 pesticides ‘directly linked to toxicity and death of dopaminergic neurons – one of the hallmarks of Parkinson’s’.
The study by a team of 19 researchers across the USA and published in the journal Nature Communications, investigated 722 specific pesticides and included data from 829 patients with Parkinson’s disease and 824 ‘controls alongside their residential areas’.
They identified 53 pesticides which ‘appeared to be linked to Parkinson’s disease’ – and noted these were 2-3 times more likely to contaminate groundwater than those more prone to diffuse in the air soon after application.
Subsequently, 39 of these pesticides were tested for toxicity in dopaminergic neurons derived from patients with Parkinson’s and 10 resulted in substantial neuronal death. They included:
- 4 insecticides: dicofol, endosulfan, naled and propargite,
- 3 herbicides: diquat, endothall and trifluralin;
- 3 fungicides; copper sulfate (basic and pentahydrate) and folpet.
The researchers reported of these 10 ‘toxic pesticides are still registered with the US Environmental Protection Agency’.
The researchers analysed pesticides used in cotton farming and found the commonly used herbicide trifluralin ‘leads to toxicity in dopaminergic neurons and mitochondrial dysfunction’.
Dr Daniel Truong, medical director at California’s Parkinson’s and Movement Disorder Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center (who was not involved in the study) told medicalnewstoday.com that while the study is ‘observational and thus does not establish causation’, pesticide regulation ‘as well as agricultural practices and worker safety may need to be changed. ‘Farm workers may need to be monitored to see if indeed a higher incidence may occur.’
And Dr Kelly Johnson-Arbor, executive director at the National Capital Poison centre (also not involved in the study) told medicalnewstoday.com: ‘For consumers, washing fruits and vegetables under room-temperature running water can help remove chemicals from produce surfaces.
‘The US EPA recommends that people wash produce instead of soaking it, as washing more effectively removes chemicals and germs from the skin of fruit and vegetables.’
She also noted those working with pesticides should take ‘special caution to reduce their exposure’, including ‘always keep pesticides in their original packaging and avoid transferring them into other containers – like bottles or cups – where people could accidentally drink them.’
In addition ‘wear protective clothing, including gloves, when handling pesticides. And since wind can cause pesticides to spread over larger regions or unintended areas after application, don’t apply pesticides on windy days.’ AMP
