Hydrocarbon exposure and Parkinson’s disease

Abstract

Occupations involving the use of hydrocarbon solvents are a risk factor for earlier onset of symptoms of PD and more severe disease throughout its course. Hydrocarbon solvents may be involved in the etiopathogenesis of PD, which does not have a major genetic component.

Occupational Exposures and Movement Abnormalities among Japanese-American Men: The Honolulu-Asia Aging Study

“…Their results, however, did not show a clear exposureresponse relationship. Pezzoli et al [6] reported that the intensity of occupational exposure to hydrocarbon solvents was directly proportional to the severity of PD symptoms. They identifi ed nine blue-collar occupations that experienced a preponderance of hydrocarbon exposure, including 'farmers'.…”

“…Occupational exposure to mercury and manganese have been positively associated with movement abnormalities such as hand and arm tremors and mask-like facial appearance [4,5] , and exposure to pesticides and hydrocarbon solvents have been positively associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) [3,6] .…”

Exposure assessment for a population-based case-control study combining a job-exposure matrix with interview data

“…Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia. Little is known as to the cause(s) of most cases of the disease, but laboratory and epidemiologic investigations have suggested that solvents (13)(14), pesticides (15)(16), and the metals iron (17), copper and manganese (18) may be risk factors.…”

The Etiopathogenesis of Parkinson Disease and Suggestions for Future Research. Part I

“…The herbicide rotenone, a potent inhibitor of mitochondrial complex I, is currently of particular research interest (62,63). Exposure to hydrocarbons has been linked to PD (64), and the issue of chronic manganese exposure as a risk factor for PD has also been debated (65Y67). Similarly, exposure to maneb, a widely used fungicide, has been associated with parkinsonism in humans, and both maneb and its major active element (manganese ethylenebis-dithiocarbamate) cause selective nigrostriatal neurodegeneration in animal and in vitro models, partially attributed to proteasomal inhibition (68).…”