(NaturalHealth365)  The call to restrict or ban pesticide use is not mere alarmism; it’s grounded in substantial evidence and urgent necessity.  Paraquat – a highly toxic herbicide – has long been linked to Parkinson’s disease.  Now, a recent report has shed alarming light on the dire consequences associated with the use of three more pesticides.

This latest analysis unequivocally demonstrates that these harmful chemicals, when applied to crops, are directly linked to the onset of Parkinson’s disease – a debilitating neurological disorder that robs individuals of their quality of life and independence.

Pesticides used throughout the United States are now in the crosshairs

The three pesticides currently under scrutiny are widely utilized in crop cultivation across the United States despite their potential to cause Parkinson’s disease.  Despite being relatively unnoticed by many, there has been a concerning surge in the prevalence of Parkinson’s disease, mirroring the upward trend observed in several other neurological conditions.

Research indicates that these toxic pesticides pose significant harm to brain neurons.  While 14 pesticides have been associated with an elevated risk of Parkinson’s disease, the connection appears most pronounced with three specific pesticides.  Parkinson’s disease manifests as the progressive loss of neurons in the brain, leading to debilitating immobility among patients.  These neurons play a pivotal role in producing dopamine, a neurotransmitter crucial for transmitting signals throughout the brain.

The decline or loss of such signaling capability profoundly compromises an individual’s motor control.  Accumulation of the alpha-synuclein peptide within the neurons of Parkinson’s patients exacerbates neuron damage and impedes dopamine production, which is essential for signal transmission.

Living in areas of high pesticide use increases risk of Parkinson’s disease

Though the idea that chemicals might damage neurons in the brain was floated as early as the 1980s, it hasn’t been proven until recently.  The research linked above will be formally presented this April at Denver’s American Academy of Neurology’s 76^th annual meeting.  Though the study has not been published in a peer-reviewed journal, it is only a matter of time until it reaches academic circles and mainstream society.

The research, conducted by scholars from Washington University and Amherst College, sheds light on how the risk of Parkinson’s disease is closely tied to the extent of exposure to pesticides.  These researchers delved into data concerning 21,549,400 individuals living in the USA and mapped the usage of pesticides across counties from 1992 to 2008.  The findings showed that 14 pesticides were associated with a greater risk of Parkinson’s disease in the wide open spaces of America’s Great Plains and the rugged terrain of the Rocky Mountains.

In particular, the pesticides atrazine, lindane, and simazine had the strongest link to heightened Parkinson’s risk.  Simazine is an herbicide primarily used to control broadleaf weeds and grasses in various crops such as corn, sugarcane, citrus fruits, and ornamental plants.  It can also be used to control weeds in non-crop areas such as highways, railways, and industrial sites.

Lindane is an organochlorine insecticide – used to control pests in agriculture, forestry, and veterinary medicine.  Lindane has also been used to treat lice and scabies infestations in humans and animals and to treat wood and seeds.

Atrazine is a widely used herbicide primarily applied to control weeds in crops such as corn, sugarcane, sorghum, and other crops.  It is also used in non-agricultural settings such as golf courses and residential lawns for weed control.

The results of the study are deeply concerning:

• Those in areas with the highest atrazine use were 31% more likely to be diagnosed with Parkinson’s
• Those in areas with the highest lindane use were 25% more likely to be diagnosed with Parkinson’s
• Those in areas with the highest simazine use were 36% more likely to be diagnosed with Parkinson’s

Though these three pesticides have been restricted in other countries, they are allowed in the United States.

Strategies to reduce your exposure to toxic pesticides

It’s crucial for every American to recognize that Parkinson’s disease has doubled in prevalence over the past 25 years.  This condition is now the fastest-growing brain disorder worldwide, but you have the power to prevent yourself from becoming a statistic.

Avoid fruits and vegetables that have been treated with pesticides.  Instead of patronizing Big Box stores and corporate supermarkets that stock produce grown with pesticides, opt to shop locally at farmers’ markets, locally owned stores, and roadside stands that sell organic produce.  Simply put, our food choices have the power to make this world less toxic and better for all of us.

Sources for this article include:

Aanfiles.bob.core.windows.net
Medicalnewstoday.com
Medpagetoday.com