title: Parkinson's disease and brain levels of organochlorine pesticides.
abstract: Epidemiological studies have suggested an etiologic relationship between pesticide exposure and Parkinson's disease (PD). Organochlorine pesticides were assayed in postmortem brain samples from 20 PD, 7 Alzheimer's disease (AD), and 14 nonneurological control cases. The three groups were similar in age at death, sex, and demographic variables. Only two of 16 pesticide residues screened were detected. A long-lasting residue of DDT (pp-DDE) was found in the majority of cases of PD and AD, as well as in all the control cases; pp-DDT was significantly more likely to be found in AD controls than the PD cases (Fisher's exact two-tailed, p = 0.04). Dieldrin was detected in 6 of 20 PD brains, 1 of 7 AD, and in none of 14 control samples. Despite the relatively small number of brains assayed, the association between Dieldrin and the diagnosis of PD was highly significant (p = 0.03). Dieldrin, a lipid-soluble, long-lasting mitochondrial poison, should be investigated as a potential etiological agent of Parkinsonism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami School of Medicine, FL 33136.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bean
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Briggle
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Sanchez-Ramos
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003634:DDT / Q000032:analysis; D004026:Dieldrin / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning; D005260:Female; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010573:Pesticide Residues / Q000032:analysis; D010575:Pesticides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D010573:Pesticide Residues; D010575:Pesticides; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane; D003634:DDT; D004026:Dieldrin