Parkinson's Disease and Pesticides

[Frank]

Pesticides and Parkinson's

Evidence linking Parkinson's disease to pesticide exposure is growing stronger, and researchers are now zeroing in on which pesticides pose the greatest risk. This year alone, three separate studies suggested an association between Parkinson's and pesticides. The latest, published in the September 2009 issue of the Archives of Neurology, found that 8.5 percent of 519 Parkinson's patients participating reported exposure to pesticides, compared to 5.3 percent of 511 people who didn't have the disease. Of the eight pesticides the investigators examined, three were linked to a threefold increase in Parkinson's. They were an organic acid (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic), the herbicide paraquat and the insecticide permethrin. Laboratory studies have shown that all three have effects on the brain cells affected by Parkinson's. Earlier this year, a French study reported that farm workers who used insecticides had a two-fold increased risk of Parkinson's, and a study at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center found detectable levels of the pesticide hexachlorocyclohexane (beta-HCH) in 76 percent of Parkinson's test subjects compared with 40 percent of healthy controls and 30 percent of Alzheimer's patients.
drweil.com

My 70+ year old mother, who has been helping me here in the flower shop for over 20 years, has been diagnosed with parkinson's disease. She was in excellent health until this. Could the years of exposure to pesticides on our floral and plant products have contributed to this? I am posting this article that was just published on Dr. Weil's website to see if any of you have had experiences with parkinson's in relation to working with flowers and plants for many years.

 

[mikec]

Great post, Frank. And a potentially great concern. I used to own a lawn care company in New Jersey. Luckily, only for seven years. I was deeply worried about the constant exposure to herbicides, insecticides and fungicides. In order to get your license, you at least had to be aware of the potential long term effects from repetitive exposure.

There is one class of pesticides called organophosphates. 2-4-d falls into this classification. 2-4-d is used in many herbicides(agent orange). The advice given by the NJ-DEP( EPA), was to go to a Dr. prior to beginning your exposure to have your blood level tested and establish a baseline for an enzyme called cholinesterase. If this level becomes elevated, there can be serious health consequences.

I've always thought that the flower growers in South America are not heavily regulated and that We, as florists, really don't have any idea about the pesticide residues on these flowersand plants.

My wife has had serious cracking skin on her hands. She went to the dermatologist and was basically told to wear gloves. She does, but they aren't rated as "chemical" inhibitiing types of gloves, which are thicker and therefore, tougher to work while wearing.

Hopefully, folks here will have additional iinformation about this.

 

[Dorothy]

Frank, so sorry about your mom's diagnosis. I read a similar article about pesticides/herbicides causing Multiple Myeloma (bone cancer) after my dad was diagnosed. He grew up on a large farm in Saskatchewan and always had a few vegetable market gardens when we were growing up. Plus, he worked at an oil refinery for 32 years. Makes you wonder....for sure.

 

[KABERS]

my dad had early onset parkinsons he was 44. he's 69 now and we had to put him in a nursing home. the dementia just got too bad and he was falling a lot. He never worked with pesticides but in his early 20's he worked with chemicals that were heated to extreme degrees. There have always been questions but you can't prove anything. If I can help with any questions about the disease and your mom, please pm me anytime and best wishes that its slow progressing for her.

 

[TGDragonfly]

no comment.

 

[FloralFantasies]

Pesticides and Parkinson's
..........
My 70+ year old mother, who has been helping me here in the flower shop for over 20 years, has been diagnosed with parkinson's disease. She was in excellent health until this. Could the years of exposure to pesticides on our floral and plant products have contributed to this? I am posting this article that was just published on Dr. Weil's website to see if any of you have had experiences with parkinson's in relation to working with flowers and plants for many years.

Frank, I am so sorry about your mother being diagnosed with Parkinson's. I have read that the floral industry uses way more pesticides than what's used on food crops in this country. And, of course, we import so many of our flowers from other countries who have far fewer restrictions on pesticide applications.

Unfortunately, it is primarily the farm workers who are affected by either applying the pesticides to the crops or after a specified time go back to work in the fields in which pesticides have been applied. If flower consumers were affected we would probably see some change in regulations.

There has been a small movement for organic flowers but unfortunately the increased cost has greatly limited demand to a few very progressive cities/communities.

You can go to www.veriflora.com to read about agriculturally sustainable certification of flowers and plants. I believe this has been a more sucessful movement.

Best wishes for your Mom.

 

[Mocha Rose]

no comment.

Please elaborate. Kind of a serious topic and I'm unclear if that was a joke or not.

 

[OB1]

This is no joke.
One of our neighbours, from a farm next to us growing up, got parkinsons at around age 50. He spent years eating his lunch in the fields after it was sprayed for various deseases. Since then, Canada has banned all herbicides and pesticides with 2-4-D , but the cases of various deseases has continued to grow.
Sadly, Mr.Stinson has died, after being reduced to a stuttering, and then confused, old man. Previously he was a vibrant, challenging, and super strong farm man, afraid of nothing, and willing and able to challenge any bully. Many other men from his era have suffered the same terrible end. I have no doubt that their suffering was caused
by some similar demon. Thankfully, scientists have been working toward an answer to
these mysteries, but I can't help thinking that the mega pharmacutical companies have something to do with the reluctance to the barring of various chemical inhibitors for commercial crops.
After all, when we get sick, who benifits? The pharmaceutical companies.
I hope I am wrong.
JP

 

[Mocha Rose]

This is an issue that I've always been concerned about. The pesticides that are used on flowers that are grown in other countries have been banned here. I'm a huge fan of the research behind Rachael Carson/ The Silent Spring, pesticides and the long term effects.

I've posted regarding pesticides several times before regarding pregnant employees, prolonged exposure and possible food contamination (specifically cake flowers).

We have to realize that we are working with a product that is grown in countries that do not have the same standards regarding safe chemicals and handling. Everyone at my shop is encouraged to wear gloves and wash frequently.

I really wish there was more information regarding chemicals/ pesticides available regarding flowers since we are dealing with imports. I wish there was an international regulation regarding exposure to certain chemicals that have been banned in countries that they are shipping to.

 

[Carol Bice]

Are there any statistics out there that might show how many, if any, of the growers and growers helpers in South American have come down with Parkinsons?

Since there doesn't seem to be many restrictions on pesticides there, it would be interesting to see just how they affect the lives of the workers that are with them every day of their lives.

 

[TGDragonfly]

Please elaborate. Kind of a serious topic and I'm unclear if that was a joke or not.

Not a joke, I've said my piece and was forced to look into it, again. All I can say is this. Your skin is a sponge, it soaks up anything that comes it comes in contact with. Chemicals do not leave the body. The only thing that we as end users can do is to protect your hands. I don't while designing but I do when processing with latex gloves.

But hey, if all we want is cheap flawless flowers, then forget about it, same goes for all the produce we eat.

 

[Kristine]

Not a joke, I've said my piece and was forced to look into it, again. All I can say is this. Your skin is a sponge, it soaks up anything that comes it comes in contact with. Chemicals do not leave the body. The only thing that we as end users can do is to protect your hands. I don't while designing but I do when processing with latex gloves.

But hey, if all we want is cheap flawless flowers, then forget about it, same goes for all the produce we eat.

and the plastic we use.

 

[CHR]

Frank - I am so sorry to hear about your Mom's condition and wish her, you, John and the rest of your family much strength and patience as you deal with her disease.

I cannot think of anyone I know in the industry who has been diagnosed with Parkinson's. Have you inquired about this at SAF or other national floriculture group? They may have statistics or be able to point you to groups who follow these issues.