New research raises alarm over Parkinson’s disease link to a prevalent dry cleaning chemical. The study, conducted by the University of Rochester Medical Center, highlights the cases of seven prominent individuals—including a former NBA player, a U.S. Navy captain, and a deceased U.S. Senator—who developed Parkinson’s following exposure to the chemical trichloroethylene (TCE).
TCE, an industrial solvent, was once used in decaffeinating coffee but was banned from the food and pharmaceutical industries in the 1970s. However, it remained present in various household items such as cleaning wipes, aerosol cleaners, tool cleaners, paint removers, spray adhesives, carpet cleaners, and spot removers. Though UK dry cleaners ceased using TCE in the mid-1950s, it persists in metal cleaning and degreasing products and as an extraction solvent in the textile industry, according to Public Health England.
The authors of the study emphasize that TCE’s detrimental effects on workers, air, and water persist, with global usage continuing to grow. In 2013, an international study revealed that TCE exposure increased the risk of developing neurological disorders like Parkinson’s six-fold. Researchers, led by Dr. Dorsey, suggest that the toxic chemical may be contributing to the escalating number of Parkinson’s cases worldwide. Approximately one million people in the U.S. are affected by the disease, with 60,000 new diagnoses each year.
Among the notable cases mentioned in the study is former NBA player Brian Grant, who was diagnosed at 36. He was likely exposed to TCE at the age of three when his father, a U.S. Marine, was stationed at Camp Lejeune—a military base known for TCE contamination. U.S. Navy Captain Amy Lindberg, who developed Parkinson’s 30 years after exposure at the same base, is another example. The study also cites other individuals who were exposed to TCE either by residing near contaminated sites or through direct contact with the chemical, such as the late U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson.
Researchers emphasize the need for the U.S. to expedite containment and cleanup efforts at the thousands of contaminated sites across the country. Further investigation into TCE’s role in Parkinson’s and other diseases is also warranted. The study calls for enhanced monitoring of TCE levels in groundwater, drinking water, soil, and indoor and outdoor air, with information shared among those residing or working near polluted areas. Additionally, the researchers advocate for a complete halt to the use of these chemicals. Though Minnesota and New York have banned TCE, the federal government has not, despite the Environment Protection Agency’s assertion that it presents “an unreasonable risk to human health.” Prior studies suggest a 40-year lag between TCE exposure and Parkinson’s onset, which offers a crucial window for intervention.
