Parkinson's Disease and Pesticides Exposure: New Findings From a Comprehensive Study in Nebraska, USA. Issue 3 (30th October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wan, Neng; Lin, Ge
• Is Part Of: Journal of rural health. Volume 32:Issue 3(2016:Summer)
• Page Start: 303
• Page End: 313
• Publication Date: 2015-10-30
• Subjects: exposure modeling -- GIS -- Parkinson's disease -- pesticides exposure -- spatial analysis; Rural health -- Periodicals; Rural health -- United States -- Periodicals; Medicine, Rural -- Periodicals; Medicine, Rural -- United States -- Periodicals; 362.104257
• DOI: 10.1111/jrh.12154
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0890-765X

Abstract

Abstract: Background: The association between exposure to agricultural pesticides and Parkinson's Disease (PD) has long been a topic of study in the field of environmental health. This research takes advantage of the unique Nebraska PD registry and state‐level crop classification data to investigate the PD‐pesticides exposure relationship. Methods: First, Geographic Information System and satellite remote sensing data were adopted to calculate exposure to different pesticides for Nebraska residents. An integrated spatial exploratory framework was then adopted to explore the association between PD incidence and exposure to specific pesticide ingredients at the county level. Results: Our results reveal similarities in geographic patterns of pesticide exposure and PD incidence. The regression analyses indicate that, for most Nebraska counties, PD incidence was significantly associated with exposure to certain pesticide ingredients such as alachlor and broxomy. However, the results also suggest that factors other than pesticide exposure may help further explain the risk of PD at the county level. Conclusions: We found significant associations between PD incidence and exposure to different pesticide ingredients. These results have useful implications for PD prevention in Nebraska and other agricultural states in the United States.