June 30, 2021 | Vineyard farmers who spend more money on pesticide use are more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease, according to research published by French scientists in Environmental Research. Although vineyards account for only 3% of French land, 20% of pesticides purchased are for vineyards. Among the pesticides used, 80% are fungicides. Fungicides have long been linked to the development of Parkinson’s disease. A 2008 study by scientists at UCLA found that chronic exposure to dithiocarbamate fungicides like ziram contributed to the development of Parkinson’s. A 2013 meta-analysis found that the fungicides maneb and mancozeb increased Parkinson’s risk by two times. This was found to be in line with the incidence associated with paraquat herbicide exposure, which is currently the subject of an increasing number of lawsuits, due to that weed killer’s strong connection to the disease. [Perrin, Laëtitia et al. Pesticides expenditures by farming type and incidence of Parkinson disease in farmers: A French nationwide study. Environmental Research, 197: 111161, 2021.]
