Pesticiden en de ziekte van Parkinson.*

Mensen die blootgesteld zijn geweest aan lage waarden pesticiden hebben wel 70% meer kans op het ontstaan van de ziekte van Parkinson dan mensen die nooit of aan zeer lage waarden pesticiden zijn blootgesteld. Dit blijkt uit een twintig jarige studie onder 143.000 mensen. Eerdere studies hebben al aangetoond dat pesticiden bepaalde belangrijke hersencellen vernietigen met als mogelijk gevolg de ziekte van Parkinson. Iedereen dient dus zeer voorzichtig te zijn met het gebruik van pesticiden zeker ook in eigen huis of tuin.

Pesticides Linked To Parkinson's Disease

Exposure to pesticides is linked to a higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease, say researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health, USA. People with low level exposure to pesticide sprays have a 70% increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease when compared to people with no or very low exposure.
This suggests that any type of pesticide exposure, be it occupationally related or not, may raise a person's risk. Exposure to home or garden pesticides probably raises a person's risk accordingly, say the researchers.
You can read about this study in the July issue of Annals of Neurology.
The researchers looked at the lifestyle questionnaires filled in by 143,000 men and women. The survey started in 1982, with regular follow-ups until 2001. In 1982 none of the 143,000 people had Parkinson's disease or any of its symptoms. 413 of them have since developed the Parkinson's disease - a much higher percentage of them were exposed to pesticides than the rest of the people.
Lead author, Alberto Ascherio, said the association between pesticide exposure and Parkinson's disease was ‘significant'. He added that everyone should be especially careful about using pesticides in general.
Previous studies have indicated that exposure to pesticides can cause key brain cells to be destroyed, which could be a cause of Parkinson's disease.
It is estimated that about 6.3 million people worldwide suffer from Parkinson's disease.
Abstract
“Pesticide exposure and risk for Parkinson's disease”
Click here to see abstract online
Annals of Neurology 26 Jun 2006
The study was funded by:
-- Michael J. Fox Foundation
-- Kinetic Foundation
-- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Grant Number: ES10804
Researchers
Alberto Ascherio, MD, DrPH
Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA
Honglei Chen, MD, PhD
Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC
Marc G. Weisskopf, PhD
Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA
Eilis O'Reilly, MSc
Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA
Marjorie L. McCullough, ScD
Epidemiology and Surveillance Research Department, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA
Eugenia E. Calle, PhD Epidemiology and Surveillance Research Department, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA
Michael A. Schwarzschild, MD, PhD
Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
Michael J. Thun, MD
Epidemiology and Surveillance Research Department, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA ( Juli 2006)