NIH study finds two pesticides associated with Parkinson’s disease

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.nih.gov/news/health/feb2011/niehs-11.htm

For Immediate Release          Contact:
Friday, February 11, 2011      Robin Arnette, NIEHS 919-541-5143

NIH study finds two pesticides associated with Parkinson’s disease

New research shows a link between use of two pesticides, rotenone and paraquat, and Parkinson's disease. People who used either pesticide developed Parkinson’s disease approximately 2.5 times more often than non-users.

The study was a collaborative effort conducted by researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), which is part of the National Institutes of Health, and the Parkinson's Institute and Clinical Center in Sunnyvale, Calif.

"Rotenone directly inhibits the function of the mitochondria, the structure responsible for making energy in the cell," said Freya Kamel, Ph.D., a researcher in the intramural program at NIEHS and co-author of the paper appearing online in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. "Paraquat increases production of certain oxygen derivatives that may harm cellular structures. People who used these pesticides or others with a similar mechanism of action were more likely to develop Parkinson's disease.

The authors studied 110 people with Parkinson’s disease and 358 matched controls from the Farming and Movement Evaluation (FAME) Study (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/atniehs/labs/epi/studies/fame/index.cfm) to investigate the relationship between Parkinson’s disease and exposure to pesticides or other agents that are toxic to nervous tissue. FAME is a case-control study that is part of the larger Agricultural Health Study (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/atniehs/labs/epi/studies/ahs/index.cfm), a study of farming and health in approximately 90,000 licensed pesticide applicators and their spouses. The investigators diagnosed Parkinson's disease by agreement of movement disorder specialists and assessed the lifelong use of pesticides using detailed interviews.

There are no home garden or residential uses for either paraquat or rotenone currently registered. Paraquat use has long been restricted to certified applicators, largely due to concerns based on studies of animal models of Parkinson's disease. Use of rotenone as a pesticide to kill invasive fish species is currently the only allowable use of this pesticide.

"These findings help us to understand the biologic changes underlying Parkinson’s disease. This may have important implications for the treatment and ultimately the prevention of Parkinson's disease," said Caroline Tanner, M.D., Ph.D., clinical research director of the Parkinson’s Institute and Clinical Center, and lead author of the article.

…

doi:10.1289/ehp.1002839

[mimitabby]

1. rotenone

wow, I remember Rotenone being used as a "safe" insecticide.
and despite what your article says, it's still for sale, "safe to put on vegetables"

[txlibdem]

2. Sounds like we need Vertical Farming -- pesticide free

Organic crops

The controlled growing environment reduces the need for pesticides, namely herbicides and fungicides. Advocates claim that producing organic crops in vertical farms is practical and the most likely production and marketing strategy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertical_farming#Organic_crops

In some cases Vertical Farming would eliminate the need for pesticides and other harmful chemicals -- natural pest control methods would be used as much as possible and pesticides only as a last resort.

Here's an article with a pic that clearly shows what "growing vertical" means:
http://thedailyeater.com/2010/11/vertical-farming-future.html

The Problem

By the year 2050, nearly 80% of the earth's population will reside in urban centers. Applying the most conservative estimates to current demographic trends, the human population will increase by about 3 billion people during the interim. An estimated 109 hectares of new land (about 20% more land than is represented by the country of Brazil) will be needed to grow enough food to feed them, if traditional farming practices continue as they are practiced today. At present, throughout the world, over 80% of the land that is suitable for raising crops is in use (sources: FAO and NASA). Historically, some 15% of that has been laid waste by poor management practices. What can be done to avoid this impending disaster?

A Potential Solution: Farm Vertically

http://www.verticalfarm.com/
(videos and lots more info at the link)

[DCKit]

3. Paraquat is a pesticide? Who knew? nt

[Tumbulu]

4. I was sprayed with paraquat in the mid 1980's

while changing a temperature measuring device in a potato field for Kern County. I became so ill- but I was hourly, no sick time, no medical coverge and the people at the office just laughed at my bad luck.....

When I was hired for a permanent job later that summer I almost did not get it for in the pre-hire physical it was determined that I now had the lung capacity of a 95 year old.

Good ol' paraquat- now I have a new thing to worry about.