Working near fields sprayed with pesticides increases risk of Parkinson’s disease, researchers say

Working near fields sprayed with
pesticides can be a health risk.First they said living close to fields sprayed with two common pesticides could increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.

Now a follow-up study shows that working nearby increases the risk substantially, especially if exposure involves a combination of pesticides, and that the risk also includes a third commonly used pesticides.

The chemicals in question are the fungicide maneb and the herbicide paraquat as well as the pesticide ziram.

What are pesticides?

Chemical pesticides are often used on fields and grass to prevent or exterminate pests.

But while they may protect crops from insect or other infestation, many of these pesticides have been shown to be toxic to humans as well.

According to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, 10 of the 12 most dangerous and persistent organic chemicals are pesticides.

Pesticides and health: Side effects of pesticides

Exposure to pesticides can lead to immediate or delayed health effects, including irritation of the skin and eyes.

Some pesticides have also been linked to nervous system disorders, reproductive challenges and cancer.

Pesticide use can contaminate non-target species, air, water and soil and therefore expose people in many ways.

Working near pesticides

The new study looked at where people, including teachers, firefighters and clerks who worked near, but not in, the fields.

The study showed that the combined exposure to ziram, maneb and paraquat near any workplace increased the risk of Parkinson's disease (PD) threefold, while combined exposure to ziram and paraquat alone was associated with an 80 percent increase in risk.

"Our estimates of risk for ambient exposure in the workplaces were actually greater than for exposure at residences," said Dr. Beate Ritz, senior author and a professor of epidemiology at the UCLA School of Public Health.

"And, of course, people who both live and work near these fields experience the greatest PD risk. These workplace results give us independent confirmation of our earlier work that focused only on residences, and of the damage these chemicals are doing."

In addition, Ritz noted, this is the first study that provides strong evidence in humans that the combination of the three chemicals confers a greater risk of Parkinson's than exposure to the individual chemicals alone.

Because these pesticides affect different mechanisms leading to cell death, they may act together to increase the risk of developing the disorder: Those exposed to all three experienced the greatest increase in risk.

The study has been published in the online edition of the European Journal of Epidemiology.

Source: Science Daily

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Worker blames chemical exposure for rare lung disease, wins lawsuit

Workers' chemical exposure can lead to
expensive lawsuits and settlements.A Baltimore County man who says he contracted a rare lung disease from breathing a butter flavoring chemical at the workplace has been awarded $814,500, the Baltimore Sun reports.

The judgment was against Polarome International Inc., a New Jersey-based chemical manufacturer and distributor.

The former plant worker, Brian Hallock, was originally awarded $5.4 million by a jury, but a judge reduced the amount because of a cap on non-economic damages, lawyers explained. They plan to appeal the cap.

Hallock was diagnosed with the rare lung disease bronchiolitis obliterans in 2006, also known as "popcorn lung" after years of breathing the chemical diacetyl, a substance used to make food taste buttery.

Now in his 50s, he has severely depleted lung capacity and may need to retire soon.

This is not the first case involving diacetyl. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health already established a link between diacetyl and the lung disease, according to Dr. David Weissman, director of the division of respiratory disease studies, and the first cases of the disease were noted more than a decade ago.

Scientists discovered that diacetyl was a threat in large doses, whether it was made chemically or naturally by fermenting bacteria.

Many suppliers turned to substitutes, but they, too, may cause disease, Weissman said. The evolving information has meant no federal regulations on use, though Weissman said there is a team working on recommendations and they are expected in the fall.

Source: Baltimore Sun

What is diacetyl?

Diacetyl is a natural byproduct of fermentation and can also be manufactured. It is often used in certain foods such as margarine or microwaved popcorn to impart a buttery flavor.

The United States National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has suggested that diacetyl, when used in artificial butter flavoring (as used in many consumer foods), may be hazardous to workers when heated and inhaled over a long period.

The workers can get diacetyl-induced bronchiolitis obliterans, commonly called popcorn workers lung, which may require a lung transplant.

There have been a number of health and safety lawsuits involving long-term exposure to diacetyl, and some workers have been awarded millions of dollars because they have suffered permanent lung damage.

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