Study links industrial cleaner to Parkinson's disease

TORONTO — A study released today finds that workers exposed to the once-common cleaning chemical tricholoretylene (TCE) may have a significantly higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease, according to ScienceDaily.

According to the story, the study — performed by Samuel Goldman, M.D., of the Parkinson's Institute — analyzed the job histories of 99 pairs of twins in which only one twin had Parkinson's disease, finding that workers exposed to TCE were five and half times more likely to develop the disease.

Workers exposed to TCE had job histories that included work as dry cleaners, machinists, mechanics or electricians, the story stated.

Scientists used the job histories of twins because, as they are genetically identical, they are the ideal candidates for determining environmental effects, the story noted.

The findings of the study — supported by grants from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, The Valley Foundation and the James and Sharron Clark Family Fund — will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 62nd Annual Meeting in Toronto April 10-17, the story added.

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