Exposure to air pollution increases Parkinson’s risk

• People with high exposure to air pollution could have an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease by around 1.5 times more.
• Researchers found a statistically significant association between exposure to the greenhouse gas NO2 and the risk of Parkinson’s.
• Toxic particle exposure was found to damage dopamine-producing neurons, which leads to the symptoms of Parkinson’s.

A new study revealed that constant exposure to air pollution increases one’s risk of Parkinson’s disease by around 1.5 times more.

Study author Professor Sun Ju Chung of the University of Ulsan College of Medicine in Seoul said, “Air pollution is a significant public health hazard. More than 80 percent of urban area residents are exposed to levels that exceed limits set by the World Health Organization.”

Chung explained that toxic particles can reach the brain through the bloodstream, leading to neurodegenerative diseases caused by systemic inflammation and oxidative stress.

The study collected data on nearly 80,000 people over 40 in the South Korean capital for almost a decade. For each address, five-year average district levels of smog were calculated.

Those living in homes with the highest exposure were 41 percent more likely to develop the neurological disorder, even with other factors taken into account.

Of the participants, 338 men and women had newly diagnosed Parkinson’s.

Parkinson’s is the second most prevalent disease after Alzheimer’s. More than six million people worldwide, one million of which are in the US, suffer from the disease. Around 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with the disease each year.

One theory suggests that the disease starts in the olfactory bulb, a part of the brain that controls smell, and the gut, then travels through the central nervous system.

This is why exposure to “environmental pollutants, such as pesticides, metals, as well as air pollution — and the microbiome” has been considered as a risk factor, says Chung.

Experiments on mice showed that ambient toxic particles can damage dopamine-producing neurons, which impacts bodily movements. This leads to the common symptoms of Parkinson’s: tremors, stiff muscles, and slowness.

Chung advised to especially watch out for nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a greenhouse gas emitted by vehicles and industry. Produced through the combustion of fossil fuels, it is 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

“In conclusion, we identified a statistically significant association between the risk of Parkinson’s and exposure to NO2 for the previous five years, especially at high exposure levels,” says Chung.

Chung has called for a “targeted public health policy” to regulate air pollutants and reduce the incidence.

The study, published in Jama Neurology, could shed light on the rising number of Parkinson’s disease cases across the world. A previous study published last year also linked air pollution to a deterioration in health conditions, including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.

Source: Study Finds