People who have been exposed to pesticides are 70 percent more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease than those who haven’t, according to a new study. The results suggest that any pesticide exposure, whether occupationally related or not, will increase a person’s risk of the disease. This means that using pesticides in the home or garden may have similarly harmful effects as working with the chemicals on a farm or as a pest controller.
… Previous small-scale human studies had suggested a link between pesticides and Parkinson’s, but this new study is the first to establish a clear correlation in a large patient population.
– Study Bolsters Link between Pesticides and Parkinson’s, Scientific American

Links:

• Annals of Neurology