Household Organophosphorus Pesticide Use and Parkinson's Disease

Abstract

Background: Household pesticide use is widespread in the United States. Since the 1970s, organophosphorus chemicals (OPs) have been common active ingredients in these products. Parkinson’s disease (PD) has been linked to pesticide exposures but little is known about the contributions of chronic exposures to household pesticides. Aims: Investigate whether long-term use of household pesticides, especially those containing OPs, increases the odds of PD. Methods: In a population based case-control study, we assessed frequency of household pesticide use between ages 16-<45 years for 357 cases and 807 controls relying on the California Department of Pesticide Regulation product label database to identify ingredients in reported household pesticide products and the Pesticide Action Network pesticide database of chemical ingredients. Using logistic regression we estimated the effects of household pesticide use. Results: Frequent use of any household pesticide increased the odds of PD by 39% [odds ratio (OR) =1.39 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06, 1.83)]; frequent use of products containing OPs increased the odds of PD more strongly by 82% [OR=1.82 (95% CI: 1.26, 2.63)] and frequent organothiophosphate use more than doubled the odds of PD. Sensitivity analyses showed that estimated effects were independent of other pesticide exposures (ambient and occupational) and the largest odds ratios were estimated for frequent OP users who were carriers of the 192QQ paraoxonase genetic variant related to slower detoxification of OPs. Conclusions: We provide evidence that household use of OP pesticides is associated with an increased risk of developing PD.