According to the study, Parkinson's disease is linked to industrial solvents in drinking water

According to the study, Parkinson's disease is linked to industrial solvents in drinking water

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disease affecting an estimated 10 million people worldwide, with numbers expected to increase as the global population ages. The disease is characterized by a variety of symptoms, including resting tremors, rigidity, bradykinesia (slowing of movement), postural instability, and various non-motor symptoms such as sleep disturbances, cognitive impairment, and mood disorders. The exact cause of Parkinson's disease remains unknown, but recent studies suggest possible environmental triggers.

Trichlorethylene (TCE) is one such environmental factor that is drawing attention. Used since the 1920s, this industrial solvent is used to degrease metals, decaffeinate coffee, and dry clean clothing. It is found in many consumer products such as paint removers, adhesive and stain removers, and carpet cleaning fluids. However, TCE does not remain in these products; Due to poor disposal practices and spills, it can leach into groundwater and soil, contaminating the environment and our water supplies.

Multiple studies have linked TCE exposure to a variety of health problems, including cancer, miscarriages, neural tube defects, congenital heart defects, autoimmune diseases, and especially Parkinson's disease.

Current findings: A connection between TCE and Parkinson's disease

An analysis of data from 158,000 military veterans has revealed an alarming link between TCE exposure and an increased risk of Parkinson's disease. Between 1975 and 1985, personnel stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, where drinking water was contaminated with TCE, were at a 70% increased risk of Parkinson's disease than personnel at Camp Pendleton, a large California base with lower TCE exposure.

Exposure to TCE occurred when the Marines were an average of 20 years old, with Parkinson's diagnosis occurring an average of 34 years later. Additionally, former Camp Lejeune residents showed a higher prevalence of early Parkinson's signs such as tremors, suggesting that some veterans may not have been diagnosed with the disease.

“This is undoubtedly the largest human epidemiological study to link Parkinson's disease to trichlorethylene,” said Samuel Goldman, MD, MPH, of the University of California, San Francisco. "It confirms our assumption that exposure to TCE is a risk factor for Parkinson's disease."

Goldman also revealed that the study identified 279 people from Lejeune who were diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, a significant number compared to the approximately 20 cases linked to TCE exposure in previous reports and studies.

Of note, this is the first study to examine environmental TCE exposure as opposed to work-related exposures. This is a critical point because from 1953 to 1987, nearly a million people lived and worked at Camp Lejeune and the water supply was contaminated.

During 1975 to 1985, the mean monthly TCE level in Camp Lejeune's water supply was 70 times the acceptable limit. Wells supplying water to the base were closed in the mid-1980s after contamination was discovered from various sources, primarily TCE and perchlorethylene (PCE).

The health records of 172,128 Marines and Marines who lived at Camp Lejeune for at least three months during this period were reviewed and compared to those of 168,361 personnel at Camp Pendleton. The demographic profiles were similar in both groups.

The follow-up period was from January 1997 to February 2021. Parkinson's disease diagnosis codes and prodromal disease indicators in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and Medicare databases were included. The Parkinson's disease diagnosis was confirmed by medical record review.

The average age at follow-up was 59.7 years. In total, 430 veterans with a mean age of 54.2 years received a Parkinson's diagnosis - 279 from Camp Lejeune (crude prevalence 0.33%) and 151 from Camp Pendleton (crude prevalence 0.21%). No increased risk was observed for other forms of neurodegenerative Parkinsonism.

Despite these results, it is important to note that exposure to TCE varied and was inferred but not conclusively confirmed in this study. Additionally, the study focused on Marines receiving care through VHA or Medicare, excluding spouses, dependents, and the large civilian population who worked on base.

Nevertheless, these restrictions may underestimate the true risk associated with these toxins and the extent of health problems associated with their exposure at Camp Lejeune. “It is important to continue studying them in the future,” emphasized Goldman. “TCE is still widely used in the industry and, surprisingly, you can easily purchase it on Amazon.”

This study highlights the potential dangers posed by environmental toxins such as TCE and highlights the importance of proper disposal and contamination prevention. As the prevalence of Parkinson's disease increases, it is more important than ever to understand and mitigate these environmental risk factors.

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