A new UCLA study has tied long-term exposure to the pesticide chlorpyrifos with a sharply increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease. Residents living near areas where the chemical was applied showed more than double the likelihood of the condition.
Chlorpyrifos has been widely used in agriculture for decades, despite previous concerns over its neurotoxicity. The research adds to growing evidence that environmental factors play a significant role in Parkinson's, a disease with no cure that affects millions worldwide.
Laboratory experiments revealed that the pesticide damages dopamine neurons — the same cells lost in Parkinson's. It also interferes with the brain's natural ability to clear toxic protein buildup, a hallmark of the disease's progression.
The study's findings could pressure regulators to tighten restrictions on chlorpyrifos, already banned for household use but still applied in many farming regions. Public health advocates are calling for immediate reviews.
While the correlation is strong, experts caution that the study does not prove causation. Individual susceptibility and cumulative exposure require further investigation.