are you a veteran?
You may be at risk for Parkinson’s.
Veterans of all ages were exposed to toxic chemicals during their service. Some of them cause Parkinson’s.
DDT
During World War II, the insecticide DDT was used to fight malaria among Allied forces in Europe and the South Pacific. In 1948, DDT’s creator was even given the Nobel Prize for Medicine, for preserving “the life and health of hundreds of thousands”.
But the myriad harmful effects of DDT, a nerve toxin, were soon discovered. Among others, DDT builds up in nerve cells in the brain and leads to increased risk for Parkinson’s disease.
Agent Orange
U.S. troops and up to 4 million Vietnamese came into contact with Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. Named for the color of its storage barrels, Agent Orange was an herbicide mixture designed to kill vegetation and crops in the tropical forests so that aircraft could spot the enemy below.
Agent Orange has been linked to many health problems, including birth defects, cancer, and Parkinson’s disease. The evidence linking Agent Orange to Parkinson’s is sufficient that veterans who were exposed and now have the disease are eligible for disability compensation and health care from the US Department of Veterans Affairs.
TCE
Since 1941, Camp Lejeune has trained Marines to be “the world’s best war fighters”, with a current population of 170,000. From 1953 to 1987, residents of Camp Lejeune drank and bathed in water contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE).
Despite its usefulness as a metal cleaner for vehicles and airplanes, TCE has a host of harmful effects, including cancer and Parkinson’s disease. In 2017, Parkinson’s disease due to time spent at Camp Lejeune was formally recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
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.