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Researchers of this new study caution that the results may not
apply to real life situations, since the study was conducted on
animals and may not apply in any way to humans, and since the mode
of exposure (injecting it into the rats' jugular veins) does not
in any way duplicate human exposure to the pesticide.
At VegSource, we deeply question the value of any animal studies,
believing in most cases the results gained do not apply to humans,
and the cruelty is not justified.
Regarding Parkinson's Disease, a great deal of previous research
has shown that human exposure to pesticides and herbicides used
in commercially grown foods appears to cause or contribute to Parkinson's.
•
In human studies of workers
exposed to paraquat and other herbicides and pesticides, researchers
found a statistically significant correlation between exposure to
such substances and Parkinson's Disease. Am J Ind Med, 1990, 17:3,
349-55
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In another study, researchers
found a significant association between Parkinson's Disease and
having had an occupation in which subjects were exposed -- through
handling or directly -- to pesticides. Mov Disord, 1994 Jan, 9:1,
69-75
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Researchers in Italy
observed acute and persistent parkinsonism after use of another
herbicide called "diquat," which is also used in commercial
fish agriculture. Neurology, 1992 Jan, 42:1, 261-3
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Another similar study
of 130 Parkinson's Disease sufferers compared to 260 healthy, randomly
selected individuals, found that "previous occupational herbicide
use was consistently the only significant predictor of Parkinson's
Disease risk." Neurology, 1992 Jul, 42:7, 1328-35
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Another large scale study
found Parkinson's Disease was positively associated with insecticide
exposure, past residency in a fumigated house, and herbicide exposure.
Neurology, 1993 Jun, 43:6, 1150-8
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Other researchers found:
"our results have the important implication that exposure to
environmental toxins such as paraquat may induce Parkinson's disease."
J Neural Transm, 1999, 106:1, 1-21
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Researchers in another
large study reported: "there was a significant association
of occupational exposure to herbicides and insecticides with Parkinson's
Disease, but no relation was found with fungicide exposure."
Neurology, 1998 May, 50:5, 1346-50
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Researchers concluded
low-dose exposure to environmental pollutants like pesticides during
the neonatal period could lead to Parkinson's Disease. Toxicol Appl
Pharmacol, 1993 Oct, 122:2, 258-64
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A recent review of published
studies between the relationship between pesticides and Parkinson's
Disease was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Researchers concluded "environmental toxins [such as pesticides
and herbicides] may contribute to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's
Disease." JAMA, 1999 Dec, 282:23, 2200
Of special note is that one lobbying group in Washington, called Guest Choice, which generally
defends all manner of commercial chemicals, pesticides and toxic
substances in our foods, is now accepting this latest study showing
that Parkinson's Disease can be caused by pesticides. When a group
funded by the food and chemical industries acknowledge such a danger,
you know that there's a serious problem out there!
Dr. Tim Greenamyre at Atlanta's Emory University, who lead the team conducting the most recent study showing pesticides are implicated in Parkinsons, suggested that farmers and public health agencies reconsider pesticide usage. Until then why risk your health by being part of a 50-year-young
experiment with commercial farming - which is in acutality a relatively new and untested
system relying heavily on chemicals and pesticides?
To preserve your health, do what's known to be safe and eat as
much as possible the way humans have been eating for millions of
years -- organically.
And perhaps even more important is to avoid animal products, which
have been shown to contain high levels of pesticide residues.
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