Pesticide/Environmental Exposures and Parkinson's Disease in East Texas

ABSTRACT

Epidemiological evidence suggests that pesticides and other environmental exposures may have a role in the etiology of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD). However, there is little human data on risk associated with specific pesticide products, including organic pesticides such as rotenone with PD. Using a case-control design, this study examined self-reports of exposure to pesticide products, organic pesticides such as rotenone, and other occupational and environmental exposures on the risk of PD in an East Texas population. The findings demonstrated significantly increased risk of PD with use of organic pesticides such as rotenone in the past year in gardening (OR = 10.9; 95% CI = 2.5–48.0) and any rotenone use in the past (OR = 10.0; 95% CI = 2.9–34.3). Use of chlorpyrifos products (OR = 2.0; 95% CI = 1.02–3.8), past work in an electronics plant (OR = 5.1; 95% CI = 1.1–23.6), and exposure to fluorides (OR = 3.3; 95% CI = 1.03–10.3) were also associated with significantly increased risk. A trend of increased PD risk was observed with work history in paper/lumber mill (OR = 6.35; 95% CI = 0.7–51.8), exposure to cadmium (OR = 5.3; 95% CI = 0.6–44.9), exposure to paraquat (OR = 3.5; 95% CI = 0.4–31.6), and insecticide applications to farm animals/animal areas and agricultural processes (OR = 4.4; 95% CI = 0.5–38.1). Cigarette smoking, alcohol use, and fish intake were associated with reduced risk. In summary, this study demonstrates an increased risk of PD associated with organic pesticides such as rotenone and certain other pesticides and environmental exposures in this population.

KEYWORDS:

• Parkinson's disease
• pesticides
• organic pesticides
• rotenone
• agriculture
• farming
• environmental exposures
• chlorpyrifos
• smoking
• fisheries

This research was supported in part by CDC/NIOSH Cooperative Agreement U50 OH07541-06 to the Southwest Center for Agricultural Health Injury Prevention and Education at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler from CDC/NIOSH. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of CDC/NIOSH.

The authors are thankful to the following people and institutions: Stasha Gominak, MD; Helen Cassel, NP; Sherri Patterson, Judy Lanier, Kelly Pierson, all from East Texas Medical Center, Tyler; and Karen Gilmore from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler.