Pesticides, Plastic And Permanent Neurotoxicity: The Path To Parkinson’s Disease
Posted on 06. Nov, 2008 by Kerry Friesen, M.D. in Neurotoxins And You
In 1966, Lew Welch created this incredibly tenacious tagline that continues to swirl within everyone’s subconscious!
RAID, KILLS BUGS DEAD!
A more liberal interpretation today might read:
“RAID, Kills Brain Cells Dead!”
That may be more macabre than you were counting on, but nevertheless consistent with a new paradigm emerging from basic research in a relatively new discipline—molecular neurotoxicology.
What am I saying?
CHEMICALLY INDUCED CHANGES IN GENE REGULATION
It appears that subtle gene-environment interactions have a far greater impact on neurochemical and neurobehavioral processes than originally thought.
Could it be that environmental toxins—the countless chemical cocktails, pesticides, plastics, industrial pollutants, heavy metals, brominated flame retardants, bisphenols and a whole host of antiandrogenic, thyroid disrupting and estrogenic chemicals are responsible for the explosion in neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson’s Disease seen today?
Basic science research and epidemiological studies conducted over the last 10 years suggests that it is.
The more sinister problem however, may be the mechanism responsible for the neurotoxicity.
EPIGENETICS AND THE “NEW” YOU
Chemically induced changes in gene regulation are caused by methylation of DNA. Adding methyl groups to your DNA where it doesn’t belong leads to chromatin remodeling. Remodeling is great for houses—bad for DNA. Especially if it permanently changes your genetic blueprint in a way that predisposes you to everything from ALS to Parkinson’s Disease.
Stranger yet, these “epigenetic” changes do not alter the actual DNA but may still be “transgenerational”, in other words, capable of being passed on from one generation to the next!
THE BIRDS THE BEES AND BIOMAGNIFICATION
Biomagnification is a big, big problem—pun, intended.
The bioamplification of persistent organic pollutants, (POP’s) is a result of their fat soluble nature. Fat soluble substances, cannot be excreted in urine and currently mammals do not possess the enzymes systems required to degrade them. As a result, fatty tissue becomes a convenient place to isolate these highly toxic substances.
Do not be fooled by so-called “safe” pesticides. A recent study revealed that adverse reactions to “safe” pesticides increased by 300% over the last 10 years and now account for 26% of all serious reactions .
The following, “dirty-dozen” should be avoided at all cost:
aldrin, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, mirex, toxaphene, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) group, dioxins and furans
Rotenone is great example of a fat soluble, relatively well known “safe” or botanical pesticide.
Rats given an intraperitoneal injection over a period of 2 months developed symptoms consistent with Parkinson’s Disease. When the animals were sacrificed, widespread degeneration of dopaminergic neurons resembling the brains of Parkinson’s patients was noted. The greater the dose and exposure, the greater the damage.
While this may not represent sufficient proof of causation for some–when combined with other epidemiologic studies, the tide is clearly turning.
Joni Mitchell couldn’t haven been more right!
Hey farmer farmer
Put away that DDT now,
Give me spots on my apples,
But leave me the birds and the bees….
Please!Joni Mitchell “Big Yellow Taxi”
Next time, “Does Gray Matter Matter?”
References:
Can Endocrine Disruptors Influence Neuroplasticity In The Aging Brain?
Neurotoxicology. 2007 September; 28(5): 938–950.
Ann Neurol. 2005 Jul;58(1):31-40.
Possibility for neurogenesis in substantia nigra of parkinsonian brain.
Brain Res. 2008 Mar 27;1201:122-7.
Behavioral alterations in rotenone model of Parkinson’s disease: attenuation by co-treatment of centrophenoxine.
Neurochem Int. 2006 Jul;49(1):28-40.
L-deprenyl protects against rotenone-induced, oxidative stress-mediated dopaminergic neurodegeneration in rats.
4 Responses to “Pesticides, Plastic And Permanent Neurotoxicity: The Path To Parkinson’s Disease”
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Kerry Friesen, M.D.: Yes. Two eyes, two hands, one brain :)...
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Jan
06. Nov, 2008
Uh, oh. Put up the Raid, indeed.
Amazing material. Ths is not just for reading but for study! Is time to blow some whistles?
Keep it up!
Jan’s last blog post..Pesticides, Plastic And Permanent Neurotoxicity: The Path To Parkinson’s Disease
Kerry Friesen, M.D.
06. Nov, 2008
Yes and can you believe I toned it down in an effort to maintain a semblance of impartiality? Plastics of course are being intensively studied as potential estrogenic compounds and endocrine disruptor chemicals….more to come!
treatment for parkinsons
18. Jul, 2010
How can pesticides be a cause when the disease was discovered in the 1800′s while pesticides were only introduced globally in the 1940′s? Makes no sense!
.-= treatment for parkinsons´s last blog ..Discover The Advances Of Stem Cell Research Parkinsons =-.
Kerry Friesen, M.D.
21. Jul, 2010
Great question. Pesticides represent just one cause of Parkinson’s disease. Recurrent head trauma is another risk factor for Parkinson’s and dementia pugilistica—dementia due to repeated sub-lethal blows. The final common denominator seems to be repeated trauma, biochemical, environmental and otherwise. A genetic predisposition of course will increase the odds of developing Parkinson’s.