Environmental Protection Agency bans pesticide linked to Parkinson’s disease

Global update

Author: Jason SinclairPublished: 2 September 2021

Parkinson's LifePrep: Parkinson's LifeCook: Parkinson's LifeServes:

A closeup of a farmer's hands harvesting a crop.

Chlorpyrifos, a pesticide linked to the onset of Parkinson’s and other neurological conditions, has been banned in the US. We take a closer look at what this means for Parkinson’s community – and the campaigners that pushed for the decision


The rise of Parkinson’s disease has long been linked to environmental factors, including air pollution and the use of certain pesticides. Now, one chemical associated with an increased risk of the condition has been banned for agricultural use by the US’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – reversing a Trump-era decision to keep the chemical in use.

The pesticide chlorpyrifos has been used on farms since 1965, sprayed across crops to protect against worms and insects by inhibiting certain enzyme reactions in the pests. Its use has been linked to developmental problems and neural damage – and a 2019 study found that exposure to the chemical induced Parkinson’s symptoms in mice.

For years, environmental groups, health advocates, and groups representing farm workers have sought a ban on the chemical due to concerns about the potentially negative health effects on those exposed to it, particularly children. Among these campaigners have been members of Parkinson’s community.

Campaigning against a growing risk of Parkinson’s

Responding to world’s fastest growing neurological disorder in 2020, notable Parkinson’s disease experts, including Dr Ray Dorsey and Dr Bastiaan Bloem, collaborated to produce the book ‘Ending Parkinson’s Disease: A Prescription for Action’ – which called for a ban of certain chemicals associated with the condition.

“Many pesticides are nerve toxins,” said co-author Dr Dorsey in an interview with Parkinson’s Life last year, “targeting the parts of cells that are known to be damaged in Parkinson’s. When you give some of these pesticides to mice and rats, they get Parkinson’s.”

As part of their ongoing efforts to drive change for Parkinson’s community, the group started the ‘Red Card’ campaign to pressure US politicians to “turn the tide of Parkinson’s” – encouraging people to send a widely circulated letter to the US president. Thousands of letters were sent over the course of the campaign.

Following the news of the chlorpyrifos ban this month, the team wrote: “We did it! We rallied together and sent over 30,000 Red Cards to the White House.”

“An overdue step”

While the ban on chlorpyrifos marks a positive step for Parkinson’s community, the chemical had already been banned from household use in the US in 2000. Since January 2020, the chemical has been outlawed in the EU – and it is already on the prohibited list of Canada and many US states.

Projected to eliminate more than 90% of chlorpyrifos use in the US, the new ban will take effect in six months.

“The EPA is taking an overdue step to protect public health,” said EPA administrator Michael S Regan in a statement. “Ending the use of chlorpyrifos on food will help to ensure children, farmworkers and all people are protected from the potentially dangerous consequences of this pesticide.”

Teresa Romero, president of the United Farm Workers labour union, said the group was “relieved that farmworkers and their families will no longer have to worry about the myriad of ways this pesticide could impact their lives”.

The ban also places a spotlight on the role of campaigning in Parkinson’s community – and raising awareness of potential risk factors around the world.

“The best way to change the course of Parkinson’s is activism from those most affected,” said Dr Dorsey. “A March of Dimes changed the course of polio, activism prevented millions of us from being infected with HIV, and ribbons have raised awareness for breast cancer. We need to end the silence on Parkinson’s.”


Read more:

Vineyard pesticides may be linked to Parkinson’s disease

Pesticide that increases Parkinson’s risk by 150% reapproved in the US

Go Back

Share this story

Comments


Related articles


environmental factors and Parkinson's

Special reports

Ask the expert: Can environmental factors cause Parkinson’s?

Dr Ray Dorsey on the impact of pesticides

READ MORE
Pesticides could be linked to Parkinson's

News

Pesticides could cause Parkinson’s, research finds

Researchers at a Canadian university have conducted a study that suggests p

READ MORE

Interviews

“It is time for us to act more aggressively to end Parkinson’s”

Four Parkinson’s experts share their plan to end Parkinson’s

READ MORE