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Scientists Warn: This Common Cleaner Ingredient is a Silent Killer and linked to a 500% Increase in Parkinson's Disease

A recent study has unveiled a terrifying truth: trichloroethylene (TCE), a common chemical found in cleaning products, paint removers, and even dry cleaning, has been linked to a staggering 500% increased risk of Parkinson's disease. This shocking revelation comes from a hypothesis paper published in the Journal of Parkinson's Disease by a team of researchers from the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) and other institutions (DOI: 10.3233/JPD-225047).

Parkinson's disease, a rapidly growing neurological condition, may be fueled by TCE, a chemical that has been in use for over a century. TCE contaminates the Marine Corps base Camp Lejeune, 15 toxic Superfund sites in Silicon Valley, and up to one-third of groundwater in the U.S. Furthermore, TCE has been linked to cancer, miscarriages, and congenital heart disease.

The National Cancer Institute has identified TCE in various household products such as cleaning wipes, aerosol cleaning products, tool cleaners, paint removers, spray adhesives, carpet cleaners, and spot removers. This omnipresent chemical has left millions unknowingly exposed to it through outdoor air, contaminated groundwater, and indoor air pollution.

The connection between TCE and Parkinson's disease was first suggested over 50 years ago. Research has since shown that TCE can enter the brain and body tissue, damaging mitochondria and causing the loss of dopamine-producing nerve cells, a hallmark of Parkinson's disease.

The hypothesis paper profiles seven individuals who developed Parkinson's disease after likely exposure to TCE, either through their occupation or environmental factors. These cases highlight the difficulty in building a case against TCE, as decades often pass between exposure and the onset of Parkinson's symptoms.

The authors of the paper propose a series of actions to address the public health threat posed by TCE. These include accelerating the remediation and containment of contaminated sites, conducting more research to better understand TCE's contribution to Parkinson's and other diseases, and closer monitoring of TCE levels in groundwater, drinking water, soil, and air. Additionally, they call for an end to the use of these chemicals in the U.S., as only Minnesota and New York have banned TCE, despite the EPA's findings that the chemicals pose "an unreasonable risk to human health."

As the public becomes more aware of the lurking danger of TCE, the hope is that swift action will be taken to eliminate this hazardous chemical from our homes and environments, potentially saving countless lives from the devastating impact of Parkinson's disease.

Sources for the above article:

University of Rochester Medical Center. (2023, March 14). Scientists Warn: Common Cleaning Chemical Linked to 500% Increased Risk of Parkinson’s Disease. Retrieved from https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/story/scientists-warn-common-cleaning-chemical-linked-to-500-increased-risk-of-parkinson-s-disease

Dorsey, R., Schneider, R., Kieburtz, K., Zafar, M., Lettenberger, S., Pawlik, M., Kinel, D., Bloem, B., Frissen, M., Tanner, C., Goldman, S., & De Miranda, B. (2023). Trichloroethylene: An Invisible Cause of Parkinson’s Disease? Journal of Parkinson's Disease. DOI: 10.3233/JPD-225047

National Cancer Institute. Trichloroethylene (TCE) Fact Sheet. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/trichloroethylene

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (2022). TCE and PCE: An Unreasonable Risk to Human Health. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/risk-management-trichloroethylene-tce

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