According to the study, Parkinson's is associated with industrial solvents in drinking water
According to the study, Parkinson's is associated with industrial solvents in drinking water
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a weak neurodegenerative disease, which is an estimated 10 million people worldwide, whereby the number with the aging of the world population is expected to increase. The disease is characterized by a variety of symptoms, including tremors, stiffness, bradycinesy (slowing down the movement), posture instability and various non -motor symptoms such as sleep disorders, cognitive impairments and mood disorders. The exact cause of Parkinson's disease is still unknown, but recent studies indicate possible environmental triggers.
trichlorethylene (TCE) is such an environmental factor that attracts attention. This industrialized solar, which has been used since the 1920s, is used to degrease metals, the decaffeination of coffee and for chemical cleaning of clothing. It is contained in many consumer products such as color removers, adhesive and stain removers as well as carpet cleaning liquids. However, TCE does not stay in these products; Due to poor disposal practices and sponsors, it can get into the groundwater and the soil and contaminate the environment and our water reserves.
Several studies have associated TCE exposure with a variety of health problems, including cancer, miscarriages, neural tube defects, innate heart defects, autoimmune diseases and especially Parkinson's disease.
Current findings: A connection between TCE and Parkinson's
An analysis of the data of 158,000 military veterans has shown an alarming connection between TCE exposure and an increased risk of Parkinson's risk. The staff stationed between 1975 and 1985 at the Marine Corps Base Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, where the drinking water was contaminated with TCE, was exposed to a 70 % increased risk of Parkinson's disease than the staff in Camp Pendleton, a large California base with a lower TCE exposure.
The exposure to TCE was made when the Marines were on average 20 years old, with Parkinson's diagnosis appearing an average of 34 years later. In addition, former residents of Camp Lejeune showed a higher prevalence of Parkinson's signs such as tremors, which indicates that the disease may not have been diagnosed with some veterans.
"This is undoubtedly the largest epidemiological study in humans that attribute Parkinson's disease to trichlorethylene," said Samuel Goldman, MD, MPH, from the University of California in 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 in which Parkinson's disease was diagnosed, a significant number compared to the approximately 20 cases that were related to TCE exposure in previous reports.
It is noteworthy that this is the first study that examines TCE exposure in the environment in contrast to work-related exposures. This is a critical point, since from 1953 to 1987 almost a million people lived and worked in Camp Lejeune and the water supply was contaminated.From 1975 to 1985, the average monthly TCE value in Camp Lejeune's water supply was 70 times the acceptable limit. Wells that supply the base with water were closed in the mid -1980s after contamination from different sources was discovered, especially TCE and perchlorethylene (PCE).
The health records of 172.128 marine soldiers and naval members who lived in Camp Lejeune for at least three months during this period were checked and compared to which of 168,361 employees in Camp Pendleton. The demographic profiles were similar in both groups.
The follow-up period extended from January 1997 to February 2021. Diagnosis codes for Parkinson's disease and indicators of protromal diseases were included in the databases of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and Medicare. The Parkinson's diagnosis was confirmed by checking the medical record.
The average age in the follow -up examination was 59.7 years. A total of 430 veterans of 54.2 years received a Parkinson's diagnosis-279 from Camp Lejeune (raw prevalence 0.33 %) and 151 from Camp Pendleton (raw prevalence 0.21 %). No increased risk was observed for other forms of neurodegenerative parking stonism.
Despite these results, it is important to note that the exposure to TCE was different and was derived in this study but was not finally confirmed. In addition, the study focused on marine fans who were supervised by VHA or Medicare, with the exception of spouses, relatives and the large civilian population that worked on the base.
Nevertheless, these restrictions may underestimate the actual risk associated with these toxins, and the extent of the health problems associated with their exposure to Camp Lejeune. "It is important to continue investigating you in the future," emphasized Goldman. "TCE is still widespread in industry and surprisingly you can easily buy it from Amazon."
This study underlines the potential dangers that emerge from environmental toxins such as TCE and underlines the importance of proper disposal and contamination prevention. Since the prevalence of Parkinson's disease increases, it is more important than ever to understand and reduce these environmentally related risk factors.
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