are you a farmer?

You may be at risk for Parkinson’s.

houses-in-farm-against-cloudy-sky-248880.jpg

PARAQUAT IS an herbicide LINKED TO PARKINSON’S. ITS USE IN THE U.S. HAS DOUBLED IN THE LAST DECADE.

Paraquat is an herbicide (a plant-killing pesticide used mostly for weed and grass control) that is so toxic that thirty-two countries, including China, have banned it. Exposure to the chemical increases the risk of Parkinson’s by 150% – that means that farmers are more than twice as likely to develop Parkinson’s.

Where is Paraquat used?

H_PARAQUAT_2017.png

This figure depicts estimated paraquat use in the United States. Estimates in all states except California are based on proprietary farm surveys about crop reporting districts (CRDs) and United States Department of Agriculture harvested-crop acreage data by county.  Crop reporting districts are made up of groups of adjacent counties. Pesticide use in California is not based on survey data, but rather obtained from annual California Department of Pesticide Regulation pesticide use reports. In the case of missing data for a CRD, this figure uses estimation based on pesticide use within the surrounding area. The figure does not take state-based restrictions on pesticide use into account. https://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/0907/pdf/ds907.pdf; https://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/pnsp/usage/maps/about.php

Source: https://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/pnsp/usage/maps/show_map.php?year=2016&map=PARAQUAT&hilo=L&disp=Paraquat

 
EndingParkinsons_3d_noSpine.png

Want to learn more?

Ending Parkinson’s Disease proposes a bold PACT to Prevent the disease, Advocate for protective policies, Care for patients, and Treat the condition with innovative therapies. The authors gather the expertise of clinicians, patients, and cutting-edge researchers to tell the full story of Parkinson’s and what we can do to end it. As we confront this coming wave of disease, this book is an indispensable guide for patients, families, clinicians, scientists, politicians, and activists.