Common Cleaning Chemical Linked to 500% Increased Risk of Parkinson's Disease
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Understanding the Link Between TCE and Parkinson's Disease
Is a prevalent industrial solvent contributing to the rise of Parkinson's disease?
Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a clear liquid widely employed for degreasing jet engines, removing paint, and cleaning garments at dry cleaners. It can also be found in various household cleaning products. A recent study published in the Journal of Parkinson's Disease indicates that "millions more are exposed to this chemical unknowingly through outdoor air, contaminated groundwater, and indoor air pollution."
The research elaborates on the extensive use of trichloroethylene and presents compelling evidence connecting this toxic substance to Parkinson's disease. Over the last century, TCE has been utilized in processes such as decaffeinating coffee, degreasing machinery, and dry cleaning clothes. It has contaminated notable sites, including Camp Lejeune and multiple Superfund locations in Silicon Valley, affecting up to one-third of the groundwater in the United States.
Not only does TCE pose cancer risks, but it is also linked to miscarriages and congenital heart defects, amplifying the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease by 500%. The study draws upon over two dozen research papers that document the neurological impacts of TCE exposure, highlighting several documented cases of Parkinson's.
According to the National Cancer Institute, TCE can be found in various household items, such as cleaning wipes, aerosol products, tool cleaners, paint strippers, spray adhesives, carpet cleaners, and spot removers. For over a century, scientists have warned that "TCE has endangered workers, polluted our air—both outdoors and indoors—and contaminated our drinking water. Its global usage is increasing, not decreasing."
Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder marked by uncontrollable tremors and slowed movement. The researchers reference various studies that imply TCE's potential role in degenerative brain disorders and advocate for further investigation.
The Los Angeles Times reports that TCE production in the U.S. peaked in the 1970s, exceeding 600 million pounds annually. It was commonly utilized at military and industrial sites and disposed of in hazardous waste facilities. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), up to one-third of drinking water supplies in the U.S. may now contain TCE, which also poses a threat to indoor air quality by seeping from soil into homes through foundation cracks, where it can be inhaled as vapor.
The EPA has published a fact sheet on TCE, which can be accessed for more information.
Environmental Concerns and Community Impact
One previously remote site, the Santa Susana Field Laboratory, where rocket engines were tested, is now surrounded by 700,000 residents within a 10-mile radius. The soil and groundwater here are tainted with over 300 pollutants, including TCE. Similarly, in Riverside County’s Jurupa Valley, development is encroaching upon the Stringfellow Acid Pits, a hazardous waste site that handled TCE.
Penny Newman, a Jurupa Valley resident and founder of the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice, stated, "The studies have always concentrated on cancer. We've consistently highlighted that additional diseases and conditions accompany these findings that are often overlooked."
"The site was originally isolated in a canyon above the community, with little development at the time," Newman continued. "However, as the city expanded with new freeways, interest in available properties surged. Only recently have people begun examining how to develop around the site."
In Newport Beach, a former missile testing area left behind chemical contaminants in the shallow groundwater. Between 1957 and 1993, Ford Motor Company operated a 98-acre facility for developing tactical missile systems. After the facility was demolished, environmental cleanup was conducted, and the site was transformed into residential properties, including luxurious homes. However, some chemical contaminants persisted and migrated with groundwater into adjacent areas.
"This is one of the wealthiest regions in the entire United States. If this is occurring in a resource-abundant area, consider what is happening in places with fewer resources."
The first video titled "Study finds common dry cleaning chemical trichloroethylene to be linked to Parkinson's" elaborates on the findings of the research, illustrating the alarming connection between TCE and neurological disorders.
The second video, "Trichloroethylene: An Invisible Cause of Parkinson's Disease?" discusses the implications of TCE exposure and raises awareness about its potential risks, emphasizing the need for public knowledge and further research.