Parkinson's disease is an incurable degenerative neurological condition; characteristics of the condition include a growing difficulty in limb movement, as well as the development of tremors and facial tics.
And while a family history of the disease and being knocked unconscious on repeated occasions are both accused risk factors of Parkinson's, researchers unveiled yet another possible culprit: exposure to pesticides. (Previous findings have suggested that pesticides, when inhaled or absorbed through the skin, can affect the way the mitochondria, or the "power house" of a cell, works.)
A Pesticide Problem
A European study examined almost 3,000 people in five different countries (Scotland, Italy, Sweden, Romania and Sweden), including 767 patients with Parkinson's. Researchers asked the participants about their professional and leisure activities, and whether or not they had regularly used pesticides:
Those with Parkinson's were more likely to have regularly used pesticides during their lives.
Part-time, weekend gardeners were 9 percent more likely to fall victim to Parkinson's.
Farmers, generally considered high-level users of pesticides, increased their chances of developing Parkinson's by 43 percent.
The results prompted experts to recommend gardeners wear protective clothing when spraying pesticides; however, the study had one significant downfall: It did not analyze specific pesticides, as participants were unable to recall which ones they had used.
Thus, while the study highlighted the health threat of pesticide exposure, it could not identify which pesticides were linked to an increased risk of Parkinson's.
BBC News May 25, 2005
New Scientist May 25, 2005
Isn't it wonderful to enjoy the fruits of modern chemistry? We can spray some chemicals and bam, no more bugs around. The problem is that if the chemical kills bugs there's a very high possibility it could kill you too in the long run.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 60 percent of herbicides, 90 percent of fungicides and 30 percent of insecticides are known to cause cancer. Numerous studies have discovered that pesticides may contribute to:
Infertility
Birth defects, miscarriages and stillbirths
Learning disorders
Aggressive behavior
Cancer of the breast, prostate and lymphatic system
I live in a community where every summer the county trucks come around and fog our neighborhood with chemicals to kill the mosquitoes. I cringe when they do this and keep the windows closed as there is no way I want to be sucking in those chemicals.
Yet I see my clueless neighbors walking behind the truck spraying the chemicals, absolutely oblivious to the grave dangers they are exposing themselves to.
It is not only farmers who are at risk for pesticide exposure. The average person, observed in another study, carried an average of 13 out of 23 different pesticides in their body. In fact, yet another study revealed that even the use of bug spray can significantly increase your risks of contracting Parkinson's disease.
Therefore, some simple tips to help you reduce your chances of pesticide exposure include:
Use safer alternatives whenever you can.
Radically reduce, or better yet, eliminate the use of any pesticides in your home.
Don't spray pesticides on your body, such as the toxic DEET-containing insect repellants. Choose natural options instead, like Neem-Based Outdoor Botanical Gel.
Start buying organic foods. (If you don't think you can afford them, read this article.) At the very least, steer clear of foods that are most likely to contain high levels of pesticides.
Be aware that conventionally raised meats are an especially dangerous, yet often overlooked, source of pesticides.
While reducing your exposure is one important way to decrease your chances of getting Parkinson's disease, like most other chronic health problems, the cause of Parkinson's can be multi-factorial. To further your chances of remaining Parkinson's-free, do your best to follow these additional tips:
Get regular exercise.
Eat more vegetables high in folic acid.
And you can find even more tips in my past article on preventing Parkinson's disease.
Related Articles:
How Many Dangerous Pesticides are in Your Body? How Many Pesticides are in Your Food? Find Out Now! How to Avoid Parkinson's Disease
How Many Dangerous Pesticides are in Your Body?
How Many Pesticides are in Your Food? Find Out Now!
How to Avoid Parkinson's Disease