Exposure to industrial cleaner increases Parkinson's disease risk

Washington, Feb 8 (ANI): A new study has linked an industrial cleaner to increased risk of Parkinson's disease.

According to the research, exposure to tricholorethylene (TCE), a chemical once used to clean metal like auto parts, could lead workers to develop Parkinson's disease.

Samuel Goldman, with the Parkinson's Institute in Sunnyvale, California, and a member of the American Academy of Neurology, said: "This is the first time a population-based study has confirmed case reports that exposure to TCE may increase a person's risk of developing Parkinson's disease.

"TCE was once a popular industrial solvent used in dry cleaning and to clean grease off metal parts, but due to other health concerns the chemical is no longer widely used."

The scientists examined job histories from 99 pairs of twins, in which only one of the twins had Parkinson's disease, to come up with their findings. All the twins were men and identified from the World War II-Veterans Twins Cohort study. Twins were used as subjects because they are genetically identical or very similar and provide an ideal population for assessing environmental risk factors.

It was discovered that workers who were exposed to TCE were five and a half times more likely to have Parkinson's disease than those not exposed to the chemical.

Those who were exposed to TCE had job histories including work as dry cleaners, machinists, mechanics or electricians.

The study will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 62nd Annual Meeting in Toronto April 10 to April 17, 2010.