Pesticide Parkinson's link strong
There is strong evidence that exposure to pesticides significantly increases
the risk of Parkinson's disease, experts believe.
It comes as another study, published in the BMC Neurology journal, has made
the link to the neurological disease.
The US researchers found those exposed to pesticides had a 1.6 times higher
risk after studying 600 people.
Experts said it was now highly likely pesticides played a key role - albeit
in combination with other factors.
The disorder, which normally develops later in life and can affect movement
and talking, is also influenced by genetic factors.
We still don't know exactly what causes Parkinson's
Kieran Breen, of the Parkinson's Disease Society
Several gene defects have been identified, but these are thought to be rare
and only account for a small proportion of the 120,000 people affected by
the disease in the UK.
The US team, which involved scientists from Duke University, Miami
University and the Udall Parkinson's Disease Research Center of Excellence,
quizzed 319 patients about their pesticide use.
The answers were compared to over 200 family members and other controls who
did not have the disease.
Related individuals were chosen as they would share many environmental and
genetic backgrounds in a bid to isolate the impact of the pesticides.
They found those exposed to pesticides had a 1.6 times greater risk of
developing the disease.
Heavy use, classed as over 200 days exposure over a lifetime, carried over
double the risk.
And the study also revealed herbicides and insecticides were the pesticides
most likely to increase risk.
Key role
Lead researcher Dana Hancock said: "I think there is very strong evidence
now linking the two. What we need to find out how - the biological process.
"What we noticed in our research was that recreational pesticide use in the
home and garden was more of a source of exposure than occupational use."
Kieran Breen, director of research at the Parkinson's Disease Society, said
the link had been recognised by earlier studies, but this study
"strengthened the fact that pesticides play a key role".
However, he added: "We still don't know exactly what causes Parkinson's.
It's most likely to be a combination of genetic susceptibility and
environmental factors."
He pointed out a survey of 10,000 patients by the charity had revealed only
one in 10 had had long-term exposure to pesticides.
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