Pesticides and Parkinson's

[Guest guest]

http://www.vegsource.com/articles/parkinsons_pesticide.htm

Go Organic to Help Avoid Parkinson's Disease

New research adds to previous evidence that pesticides may cause Parkinson's disease The results of a study to be published in the December issue of the journal Nature Neuroscience add weight to previous studies implicating pesticides as a cause of or contributor to Parkinson's disease.In the new study, researchers fed rats intravenously a pesticide called "rotenone," and observed as the rats exhibited Parkinson's Disease symptoms.Rotenone is used on home-grown fruits and vegetables and for killing unwanted fish in the nation's lakes and rivers. It is called an "organic" pesticide because it is extracted from the dried roots, seeds and leaves of various tropical plants, including the Jewel vine, derris and hoary pea. Like many plants that produce what are in effect their own pesticides, these plants apparently evolved to produce the compound as a way of warding off insects and other pests.Don't be confused by the label "organic pesticide" however; the use of Rotenone is prohibited under the California Organic Foods Act of 1990, and should continue to be prohibited under federal organic definitions -- unless chemical manufacturers are ultimately successful in their massive, well-financed attempts to convince the USDA to water down "organic" definitions.

Researchers of this new study caution that the results may not apply to real life situations, since the study was conducted on animals and may not apply in any way to humans, and since the mode of exposure (injecting it into the rats' jugular veins) does not in any way duplicate human exposure to the pesticide.At VegSource, we deeply question the value of any animal studies, believing in most cases the results gained do not apply to humans, and the cruelty is not justified.Regarding Parkinson's Disease, a great deal of previous research has shown that human exposure to pesticides and herbicides used in commercially grown foods appears to cause or contribute to Parkinson's. • In human studies of workers exposed to paraquat and other herbicides and pesticides, researchers found a statistically significant correlation between exposure to such substances and Parkinson's Disease. Am J Ind Med, 1990, 17:3, 349-55• In another study, researchers found a significant association between Parkinson's Disease and having had an occupation in which subjects were exposed -- through handling or directly -- to pesticides. Mov Disord, 1994 Jan, 9:1, 69-75• Researchers in Italy observed acute and persistent parkinsonism after use of another herbicide called "diquat," which is also used in commercial fish agriculture. Neurology, 1992 Jan, 42:1, 261-3• Another similar study of 130 Parkinson's Disease sufferers compared to 260 healthy, randomly selected individuals, found that "previous occupational herbicide use was consistently the only significant predictor of Parkinson's Disease risk." Neurology, 1992 Jul, 42:7, 1328-35• Another large scale study found Parkinson's Disease was positively associated with insecticide exposure, past residency in a fumigated house, and herbicide exposure. Neurology, 1993 Jun, 43:6, 1150-8• Other researchers found: "our results have the important implication that exposure to environmental toxins such as paraquat may induce Parkinson's disease." J Neural Transm, 1999, 106:1, 1-21• Researchers in another large study reported: "there was a significant association of occupational exposure to herbicides and insecticides with Parkinson's Disease, but no relation was found with fungicide exposure." Neurology, 1998 May, 50:5, 1346-50

• Researchers concluded low-dose exposure to environmental pollutants like pesticides during the neonatal period could lead to Parkinson's Disease. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol, 1993 Oct, 122:2, 258-64• A recent review of published studies between the relationship between pesticides and Parkinson's Disease was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers concluded "environmental toxins [such as pesticides and herbicides] may contribute to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's Disease." JAMA, 1999 Dec, 282:23, 2200Of special note is that one lobbying group in Washington, called Guest Choice, which generally defends all manner of commercial chemicals, pesticides and toxic substances in our foods, is now accepting this latest study showing that Parkinson's Disease can be caused by pesticides. When a group funded by the food and chemical industries acknowledge such a danger, you know that there's a serious problem out there!Dr. Tim Greenamyre at Atlanta's Emory University, who lead the team conducting the most recent study showing pesticides are implicated in Parkinsons, suggested that farmers and public health agencies reconsider pesticide usage. Until then why risk your health by being part of a 50-year-young experiment with commercial farming - which is in acutality a relatively new and untested system relying heavily on chemicals and pesticides?

To preserve your health, do what's known to be safe and eat as much as possible the way humans have been eating for millions of years -- organically.

And perhaps even more important is to avoid animal products, which have been shown to contain high levels of pesticide residues.

[Guest guest]

I haven't read all the posts because I am very busy but if you are looking into pesticide exposure, I believe that the "Chlors" like s-metolachlor etc. are being found to cause the increase in diabetes. I know a little bit more than the average about some of these things because I was a farmer, plus I am involved in a pesticide drift case currently. An irresponsible commercial sprayer decided to spray his corn field with 5 different chemicals when the winds were around 36 miles per hour and in the direction of my fruit fields. Needless to say, I tilled under 5 acres of strawberries and will probably end up tilling under my acre of raspberries. I was exposed directly to the spray drift and so was my now deceased dog Kody. they used s-metolachlor and atrazine amongst others, and I also believe the 2-4d or dicamba chemicals were also used (they wouldn't admit this though).

Anyway...keep an eye on atrazine as a chemical culprit too. It was used heavily a few decades ago and they are still finding it in the water all over.

Tami

Pesticides and Parkinson's

On-the-job Pesticide Exposure Associated With Parkinson's DiseaseScienceDaily (Sep. 17, 2009) — Individuals whose occupation involves contact with pesticides appear to have an increased risk of having Parkinson's disease, according to a report in the September issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. The development of Parkinson's disease related to chemical exposure was identified in the late 20th century, according to background information in the article. Since then, occupations such as farming, teaching and welding have all been proposed to increase the risk of Parkinson's disease. However, associations have been inconsistent and few previous studies have evaluated the direct relationship between occupational chemical exposure and disease risk. Caroline M. Tanner, M.D., Ph.D., of the Parkinson's Institute, Sunnyvale, Calif., and colleagues studied 519 individuals with Parkinson's disease and 511 controls who were the same age and sex and lived in the same location. Participants were surveyed about their occupational history and exposure to toxins, including solvents and pesticides. Working in agriculture, education, health care or welding was not associated with Parkinson's disease, nor was any other specific occupation studied after adjustment for other factors. Among the patients with Parkinson's disease, 44 (8.5 percent) reported pesticide exposure compared with 27 (5.3 percent) of controls, such that occupational pesticide exposure was associated with an increased risk of the disease. "Growing evidence suggests a causal association between pesticide use and parkinsonism. However, the term 'pesticide' is broad and includes chemicals with varied mechanisms," the authors write. "Because few investigations have identified specific pesticides, we studied eight pesticides with high neurotoxic plausibility based on laboratory findings. Use of these pesticides was associated with higher risk of parkinsonism, more than double that in those not exposed." Three individual compounds—an organochloride (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid), an herbicide (paraquat) and an insecticide (permethrin)—were associated with a more than three-fold increased risk of Parkinson's disease. All three have been shown to have effects on dopaminergic neurons—affected by Parkinson's disease—in the laboratory. "This convergence of epidemiologic and laboratory data from experimental models of Parkinson's disease lends credence to a causative role of certain pesticides in the neurodegenerative process," the authors conclude. "Other pesticide exposures such as hobby gardening, residential exposure, wearing treated garments or dietary intake were not assessed. Because these exposures may affect many more subjects, future attention is warranted." _____ Journal reference:

Caroline M. Tanner; G. Webster Ross; A. Jewell; A. Hauser; ph Jankovic; A. Factor; Bressman; Deligtisch; Connie Marras; E. Lyons; Grace S. Bhudhikanok; F. Roucoux; Cheryl Meng; D. Abbott; J. Langston. Occupation and Risk of Parkinsonism: A Multicenter Case-Control Study. Arch Neurol, 2009; 66 (9): 1106-1113 [link <http://archneur.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/66/9/1106> ]

[Guest guest]

Tami,

This is a sad story of commercial and ecological stupidity from this

corn farmer. Here, corn farmers soak up so much from the watertables to

irrigate that they have had to agree to reduce corn surfaces by about

15% in low-precipitation areas. Good luck in your litigation.

>

> I haven't read all the posts because I am very busy but if you are

looking into pesticide exposure, I believe that the " Chlors " like

s-metolachlor etc. are being found to cause the increase in diabetes. I

know a little bit more than the average about some of these things

because I was a farmer, plus I am involved in a pesticide drift case

currently. An irresponsible commercial sprayer decided to spray his

corn field with 5 different chemicals when the winds were around 36

miles per hour and in the direction of my fruit fields. Needless to

say, I tilled under 5 acres of strawberries and will probably end up

tilling under my acre of raspberries. I was exposed directly to the

spray drift and so was my now deceased dog Kody. they used

s-metolachlor and atrazine amongst others, and I also believe the 2-4d

or dicamba chemicals were also used (they wouldn't admit this though).

> Anyway...keep an eye on atrazine as a chemical culprit too. It was

used heavily a few decades ago and they are still finding it in the

water all over.

> Tami

>

> Pesticides and Parkinson's

>

>

> On-the-job Pesticide Exposure Associated With Parkinson's Disease

> ScienceDaily (Sep. 17, 2009) - Individuals whose occupation involves

contact with pesticides appear to have an increased risk of having

Parkinson's disease, according to a report in the September issue of

Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

>

> The development of Parkinson's disease related to chemical exposure

was identified in the late 20th century, according to background

information in the article. Since then, occupations such as farming,

teaching and welding have all been proposed to increase the risk of

Parkinson's disease. However, associations have been inconsistent and

few previous studies have evaluated the direct relationship between

occupational chemical exposure and disease risk.

>

> Caroline M. Tanner, M.D., Ph.D., of the Parkinson's Institute,

Sunnyvale, Calif., and colleagues studied 519 individuals with

Parkinson's disease and 511 controls who were the same age and sex and

lived in the same location. Participants were surveyed about their

occupational history and exposure to toxins, including solvents and

pesticides.

>

> Working in agriculture, education, health care or welding was not

associated with Parkinson's disease, nor was any other specific

occupation studied after adjustment for other factors.

>

> Among the patients with Parkinson's disease, 44 (8.5 percent)

reported pesticide exposure compared with 27 (5.3 percent) of controls,

such that occupational pesticide exposure was associated with an

increased risk of the disease. " Growing evidence suggests a causal

association between pesticide use and parkinsonism. However, the term

'pesticide' is broad and includes chemicals with varied mechanisms, " the

authors write. " Because few investigations have identified specific

pesticides, we studied eight pesticides with high neurotoxic

plausibility based on laboratory findings. Use of these pesticides was

associated with higher risk of parkinsonism, more than double that in

those not exposed. "

>

> Three individual compounds-an organochloride

(2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid), an herbicide (paraquat) and an

insecticide (permethrin)-were associated with a more than three-fold

increased risk of Parkinson's disease. All three have been shown to have

effects on dopaminergic neurons-affected by Parkinson's disease-in the

laboratory.

>

> " This convergence of epidemiologic and laboratory data from

experimental models of Parkinson's disease lends credence to a causative

role of certain pesticides in the neurodegenerative process, " the

authors conclude. " Other pesticide exposures such as hobby gardening,

residential exposure, wearing treated garments or dietary intake were

not assessed. Because these exposures may affect many more subjects,

future attention is warranted. "

>

> _____

> Journal reference:

>

>

>

> 1.. Caroline M. Tanner; G. Webster Ross; A. Jewell;

A. Hauser; ph Jankovic; A. Factor; Bressman;

Deligtisch; Connie Marras; E. Lyons; Grace S. Bhudhikanok;

F. Roucoux; Cheryl Meng; D. Abbott; J. Langston.

Occupation and Risk of Parkinsonism: A Multicenter Case-Control Study.

Arch Neurol, 2009; 66 (9): 1106-1113 [link

<http://archneur.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/66/9/1106> ]

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you!

My goal is to change some laws that make commercial sprayers follow stricter guidelines. Let's face it...illness is jumping so high, and what's different from years ago? Use of chemicals, whether it be in agriculture, fuel for cars and homes etc. The list is endless.Now that we know what we know, it would be fun to go back in time and live simpler lives. I yearn for that all the time.

Sincerely,

Tami

Pesticides and Parkinson's>>> On-the-job Pesticide Exposure Associated With Parkinson's Disease> ScienceDaily (Sep. 17, 2009) - Individuals whose occupation involvescontact with pesticides appear to have an increased risk of havingParkinson's disease, according to a report in the September issue ofArchives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.>> The development of Parkinson's disease related to chemical exposurewas identified in the late 20th century, according to backgroundinformation in the article. Since then, occupations such as farming,teaching and welding have all been proposed to increase the risk ofParkinson's disease. However, associations have been inconsistent andfew previous studies have evaluated the direct relationship betweenoccupational chemical exposure and disease risk.>> Caroline M. Tanner, M.D., Ph.D., of the Parkinson's Institute,Sunnyvale, Calif., and colleagues studied 519 individuals withParkinson's disease and 511 controls who were the same age and sex andlived in the same location. Participants were surveyed about theiroccupational history and exposure to toxins, including solvents andpesticides.>> Working in agriculture, education, health care or welding was notassociated with Parkinson's disease, nor was any other specificoccupation studied after adjustment for other factors.>> Among the patients with Parkinson's disease, 44 (8.5 percent)reported pesticide exposure compared with 27 (5.3 percent) of controls,such that occupational pesticide exposure was associated with anincreased risk of the disease. "Growing evidence suggests a causalassociation between pesticide use and parkinsonism. However, the term'pesticide' is broad and includes chemicals with varied mechanisms," theauthors write. "Because few investigations have identified specificpesticides, we studied eight pesticides with high neurotoxicplausibility based on laboratory findings. Use of these pesticides wasassociated with higher risk of parkinsonism, more than double that inthose not exposed.">> Three individual compounds-an organochloride(2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid), an herbicide (paraquat) and aninsecticide (permethrin)-were associated with a more than three-foldincreased risk of Parkinson's disease. All three have been shown to haveeffects on dopaminergic neurons-affected by Parkinson's disease-in thelaboratory.>> "This convergence of epidemiologic and laboratory data fromexperimental models of Parkinson's disease lends credence to a causativerole of certain pesticides in the neurodegenerative process," theauthors conclude. "Other pesticide exposures such as hobby gardening,residential exposure, wearing treated garments or dietary intake werenot assessed. Because these exposures may affect many more subjects,future attention is warranted.">> _____> Journal reference:>>>> 1.. Caroline M. Tanner; G. Webster Ross; A. Jewell; A. Hauser; ph Jankovic; A. Factor; Bressman; Deligtisch; Connie Marras; E. Lyons; Grace S. Bhudhikanok; F. Roucoux; Cheryl Meng; D. Abbott; J. Langston.Occupation and Risk of Parkinsonism: A Multicenter Case-Control Study.Arch Neurol, 2009; 66 (9): 1106-1113 [link<http://archneur.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/66/9/1106> ]>