Scientists have long tracked the link between the chemical trichloroethylene (TCE) and an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. New research, with results published in npj Parkinson’s Disease, has further confirmed and deepened the understanding of this association, using large datasets to analyse the impact of environmental factors on the health of older people.
The study included more than 19 million people aged 67 and over, representing a significant sample for assessing the impact of environmental factors on health. Within this large population, 180,000 people were diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The analysis covered users of the Medicare system, whose data were linked to location data, specifically the locations of more than 30,000 dry-cleaning outlets in 2013, to determine proximity to potentially harmful chemicals.
The key finding of the study is that people living in close proximity, specifically within a 150-metre radius, have a 14 per cent higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease compared with those living 6.4 to 8 kilometres away. This statistical difference indicates a significant impact of proximity to potential contaminants on health, although researchers stress that this is a correlation, not necessarily a direct causal link.
The data are particularly concerning regarding specific symptoms. Researchers found that the risk was 23 per cent higher for patients who had significant problems with walking and mobility. For the form of the disease associated with dementia, the risk was even higher, at 25 per cent. These findings, based on correlational data, point to serious implications for public health.
Although the study does not prove that chemicals from these outlets directly cause the disease, the findings are considered concerning. The research highlights the importance of monitoring the impact of environmental factors on the development of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s, and the need for further research to better understand the mechanisms of such associations.
