Studies examine environmental factors that may be linked to higher risk of Parkinson’s

The cause of Parkinson’s disease remains unknown, but a recent report identifies pollutants in some urban areas that may increase the risk of getting the disease.

The Health Notes blog of the Newport News Daily Press reports on a new analysis that identifies high levels of manganese and copper pollution as potential risk factors for some city dwellers. For example, people living in areas with higher levels of manganese pollution had a 78% greater risk of having Parkinson’s than those who didn’t, according to the Washington University in St. Louis report.

Prior research on Parkinson’s disease in rural and farm areas links the disease to private well water and exposure to pesticides.

Also: Find out what Parkinson’s research actor Michael J. Fox is funding

The Los Angeles Times’ Greenspace blog reported last year: “Rural residents who drink from private wells are up to twice as likely to develop Parkinson’s from certain pesticides, including methomyl, chlorpyrifos and propargite, a UCLA study has found. People with Parkinson’s were more likely to have consumed water from private wells, and had done so for 4.3 years longer on average than people who did not have the disease.”