Pesticide exposure tied to more severe Parkinson's symptoms
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A crop duster in Whittemore, Iowa. Photo: Charles Ommanney/The Washington Post via Getty Images
People with Parkinson's disease who were exposed to pesticides at work may experience more severe symptoms than those who weren't, according to new research.
Why it matters: The findings could sharpen scrutiny of pesticides in Iowa, which has both heavy agricultural pesticide use and thousands of Parkinson's cases.
Driving the news: Occupational pesticide exposure was associated with worse motor function and some non-motor symptoms, according to a study published last month in NPJ Parkinson's Disease, a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
- Anxiety, daytime sleepiness and sleep disturbances were among the symptoms associated with exposure.
Between the lines: Researchers say the findings show an association, not a cause-and-effect relationship.
State of play: The study analyzed more than 9,000 people with Parkinson's.
- It doesn't prove pesticides caused the symptoms, and researchers found no consistent evidence that exposure accelerated the disease's progression.
The big picture: For decades, Iowa has been at the center of research into pesticides and Parkinson's.
- While much previous research has examined whether pesticides are associated with the risk of developing Parkinson's, the new study focuses on symptom severity among people who already have the disease.
By the numbers: An estimated 20,000 Iowans have Parkinson's.
- Roughly 53 million pounds of pesticides were used in the state last year.
The intrigue: EPA says studies on paraquat, an herbicide some have linked to Parkinson's, have produced conflicting results and that it has not found a clear link to labeled uses.
The agency has announced it will host a roundtable on the issue but hasn't set a date.
What they're saying: The new study adds weight to concerns about pesticides and Parkinson's because similar findings are emerging through different research approaches, Anne Hubbard, chief public policy officer for the American Parkinson Disease Association, tells Axios.
What we're watching: How studies like this shape efforts in Iowa to restrict or ban herbicides such as paraquat.