Widely used chemical strongly linked to Parkinson’s disease | Science | AAAS

Source:  https://www.science.org/content/article/widely-used-chemical-strongly-linked-parkinson-s-disease

A groundbreaking epidemiological study has produced the most compelling evidence yet that exposure to the chemical solvent trichloroethylene (TCE)—common in soil and groundwater—increases the risk of developing Parkinson's disease. The movement disorder afflicts about 1 million Americans, and is likely the fastest growing neurodegenerative disease in the world; its global prevalence has doubled in the past 25 years.

The report, published today in JAMA Neurologynone, involved examining the medical records of tens of thousands of Marine Corps and Navy veterans who trained at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina from 1975 to 1985. Those exposed there to water heavily contaminated with TCE had a 70% higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease decades later compared with similar veterans who trained elsewhere. The Camp Lejeune contingent also had higher rates of symptoms such as erectile dysfunction and loss of smell that are early harbingers of Parkinson's, which causes tremors; problems with moving, speaking, and balance; and in many cases dementia. Swallowing difficulties often lead to death from pneumonia.

About 90% of Parkinson's cases can't be explained by genetics, but there have been hints that exposure to TCE may trigger it. The new study, led by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), represents by far the strongest environmental link between TCE and the disease. Until now, the entire epidemiological literature included fewer than 20 people who developed Parkinson's after TCE exposure.

What I find most shocking is that all chemicals from the pre-EPA era are simply "grandfathered" into the system. In other words: company that have made dangerous chemicals for decades don't need to prove to the government agencies that the chemicals in question are safe, because they've been used for so long already. 

Can you imagine what would happen if all these thousands of known compounds would have to prove their safety? How many chemicals would we still allow in our food, clothing, electronic products, beauty products and our air, ground and water? How much economic "damage" would be done in the short turn if we became environmentally prudent? And how much human suffering would be prevented in the long run if we did?