How clear is the link between pesticide exposure and Parkinsons?
According to Dr. William Langston, “I don’t think we’re yet at the point of being able to say unequivocally that if you live in an area where there’s more pesticides than other areas, you’re at a higher risk.” But new research may illuminate the link. One study is mapping Parkinson’s cases in California against areas known to have high pesticide use. Another is collecting data from over 50,000 licensed pesticide applicators in two states to track whether these individuals face an increased risk of getting Parkinson’s. “This, I think, may really answer the question of not only whether pesticides are an increased risk, but also, specifically, which pesticides,” Dr. Langston hopes.
