Comments on Parkinson’s Disease

A few weeks ago The Guardian ran an excellent article (link below) showing the links between Parkinson’s Disease – the incidence of which is growing at an alarming speed – and a chemical called Tri-Choro-Ethylene, or TCE. It is an industrial chemical that was used in dry cleaning till it was replaced by Tetra-Chloro-Ethylene, which is in my view equally dangerous. TCE is a recognised carcinogen (it causes cancer) and it depresses the nervous system, hence its historical use as an anaesthetic. It is well worth reading the article, and following all the links within it as well, as it is based on solid research.

However, it misses the big picture: TCE is certainly a causative factor in Parkinson’s Disease, but it undoubtedly contributes to many other diseases as well. Conversely, many other chemicals, especially pesticides and herbicides, are also causative factors in Parkinson’s Disease. With 80-100 thousand synthetic chemicals in daily use, and chronic diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, MS and cancer rising at astronomical rates, we don’t have the luxury of trying to work out which chemical contributes most to which particular illness. We need to cut back on all of them.

Link to original article below:

https://www.theguardian.com/.../rates-of-parkinsons...

Image via The Guardian