Occupational chemical exposure linked to Parkinson’s risk

TCE is widely used as a metal degreasing agent.

If your work exposes you to solvents such as trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PERC), you could be at a higher risk for developing Parkinson’s disease, a new research report found.

A NIH (National Institutes of Health)-funded study looked at twins, where one of the pair had developed the disorder and assessed their exposure to six chemicals previously linked to Parkinson’s disease.

The researchers concluded that two common chemical solvents, trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PERC), are significantly linked to development of this disease.

The study appears in the Nov. 14, 2011 issue of Annals of Neurology.

What is Parkinson’s disease?

Parkinson's disease is a movement disorder caused by the loss of brain cells that produce a molecule called dopamine.

Health symptoms of Parkinson's include tremor, stiffness, slowed movement and impaired balance, and as these symptoms progress, patients may also develop difficulty walking, speaking or completing other activities of daily living.

Genes play a role in Parkinson's disease, but fewer than 10 percent of cases are due to a single gene mutation, and not all people with these mutations develop Parkinson's, suggesting that environmental factors also contribute to the likelihood of developing the disease.

About the chemicals

Researchers suspect that environmental
pollution affects the risk of Parkinson's.

TCE is a widely used metal degreaser (it also used to be a general anesthetic and coffee decaffeinating agent), while PERC is more commonly known as the dry cleaning fluid and often used in garment dry cleaning operations.

The occupations with the strongest link for TCE were the industrial machinery repairer and industrial worker categories.

TCE has also been linked to Parkinson's by other research groups. Researchers at the University of Kentucky, Lexington, and the Kangwon National University in South Korea have reported an association between TCE and Parkinson's in highly-exposed industrial workers, and have also demonstrated that TCE causes neurodegeneration in animal models.

About the study

The study involved 99 pairs of twins because they are so genetically similar and help in identifying environmental influences in disease.

The study team assessed the twins' lifetime work and hobby activities, specifically inquiring about occupational tasks such as electrical work, industrial machinery repair, and dry cleaning, which would potentially expose people to chemicals previously linked to Parkinson's.

The researchers also collected information on head injuries, which are suspected to increase Parkinson's risk, and smoking history, which is reported to decrease Parkinson's risk.

Expert evaluators, unaware of which study subjects had Parkinson's, reviewed this information and calculated lifelong exposure to six chemicals: TCE, PERC, carbon tetrachloride, n-hexane, xylene and toluene. Of these, TCE and PERC posed a notable risk for developing Parkinson's.

"The potential importance is great, since both solvents persist in the environment and are commonly used," said Samuel Goldman, M.D., M.P.H. in a press release. "Parkinson's was sixfold more common in twins exposed to TCE, and ninefold more common in twins exposed to TCE or PERC."

I-6500 is a powerful air cleaner.

There was also a trend toward a tenfold increase in Parkinson's disease in twins exposed to PERC alone.
However, one limitation of the research is the small number of individuals studied, the researchers warn.

Reduce chemical exposure at the workplace

In some industries, you have to deal with certain solvents or chemicals, but employers need to protect workers with a comprehensive Health and Safety program.

Electrocorp offers industrial-strength air cleaners with activated carbon and HEPA to remove airborne chemicals, gases and fumes as well as other pollutants from the ambient air.

Find out more about Electrocorp’s units for heavy chemical and odor control, chemical manufacturing, and more.

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Smoke-free workplaces save lives, study finds

Smoke is a poor IAQ offender.

A Mayo Clinic study confirms that keeping a workplace smoke-free reduces the risk of heart attacks and sudden cardiac deaths.

In fact, the research shows that the incidence for heart attack and sudden cardiac deaths was cut in half after a smoking ban went into effect for workers in Olmsted County, Minn.

The smoking ban had other effects as well. Adult smoking rates decreased by 23 percent, while other risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and obesity remained stable or increased.

The population-based study showed that during the 18 months before Olmsted County's first smoke-free law for restaurants was passed in 2002, the regional incidence of heart attack was 212.3 cases per 100,000 residents.

In the 18 months following a comprehensive smoke-free ordinance in 2007, in which restaurants and workplaces became smoke-free, that rate dropped to 102.9 per 100,000 residents -- a decrease of about 45 percent.

Additionally, during these two time periods, the incidence of sudden cardiac death fell from 152.5 to 76.6 per 100,000 residents -- a 50 percent reduction.

"We are going to use this information to help us convince corporations -- convince countries -- that this is the right thing to do to protect the health of their workers and their citizens," said Richard Hurt, M.D., director of Mayo Clinic's Nicotine Dependence Center in a news release.

Breathe cleaner, healthier air at work

Tobacco smoke is one of the worst offenders when it comes to indoor air quality, so banning smoking at the workplace is a good first step to better health and safety conditions.

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However, workers may be exposed to a range of other indoor air pollutants such as VOCs, particles, mold and more.

Poor indoor air quality can affect the workers’ productivity, health and well-being.

For better IAQ, companies need to implement a good IAQ management strategy consisting of source control, improved ventilation and air cleaning.

Electrocorp specializes in industrial-strength air cleaners for virtually any industry segment. The air cleaners remove chemicals, gases, odors, particles, dust, pathogens, mold and allergens with a deep-bed activated carbon + HEPA filter combination.

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Meth labs in decline thanks to new law

Police often have to deal with chemical
explosions in illegal meth labs.

The state of Oregon passed a law to make 15 common household cold and allergy medicines “prescription only” – and it seems to be working.

The law targets healthcare products that contain pseudoephedrine, an important component for the production of methamphetamine in illegal labs.

Since the law has come into effect, meth lab incidents have gone down by 96 percent, according to the district attorney of Lincoln County in Oregon, who says that arrests, meth treatment admissions and crime rates in general have also decreased.

Oregon used to be a hotbed for meth labs, which can pose serious health risks to the people cooking up the drugs as well as residents and children in the nearby environment.

Because of the chemicals used in meth production, police had to deal with many fires, explosions and environmental exposure concerns.

While meth labs continue to be a problem in Oregon, the decrease in incidences makes a big difference. The district attorney says they used to take down 500 meth labs a year, which has gone down to eight so far this year.

Other states may soon follow Oregon’s example.

Source: The Register-Herald

Risks associated with meth labs

The cleanup of meth labs is also a dangerous task for law enforcement officers everywhere.

Short-term exposure to high concentrations of chemical vapors that may exist in methamphetamine laboratories can cause severe health problems or even result in death.

The risks come from the flammable and corrosive chemicals used in the process, particularly the solvents used in extraction and purification.

Electrocorp has designed powerful portable air cleaners for law enforcement that can be used on the job and remove a wide range of airborne chemicals, odors, gases and other contaminants.

They are equipped with a large activated carbon filter as well as HEPA and UV germicidal filtration (optional).

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Retail and restaurant owners face environmental risks

Restaurants can be affected by
environmental risk factors.

Owning retail space or a facility that serves food takes a lot of work.

A major part of the responsibilities involve environmental due diligence and risk management, according to an article on GlobeSt.com.

There are a lot of environmental concerns that retail and restaurant owners need to take into consideration.

First, retail owners need to identify certain businesses and industries that work with hazardous toxins:

Drycleaners: Drycleaning operations often use solvents and toxic chemicals that can contaminate the soil, groundwater or indoor air.

Auto Shops: Spaces that service cars use many petroleum-based and hazardous substances that can contaminate soil and indoor air and expose workers and clients to the toxins.

Gas Stations: Underground storage tanks for fuel pose risks for leaks. Even if there is a gas station adjacent to the property, experts warn of vapor intrusion in case of leaks that can affect the health and well-being of occupants.

Indoor Air Quality

Retail and restaurant spaces suffer from the same indoor air quality problems as other indoor spaces – except their concerns may be compounded because of the merchandise or patronage.

For example, fashion stores often stock tons of merchandise that has been treated with chemicals. New electronic equipment releases toxins into the ambient air. New furniture and carpets off-gas volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and flame retardants.

Many air cleaners can be hidden behind
walls or above drop-down ceilings.

The air in restaurants may be compromised by food odors, smoke and other pollutants.

After the initial assessment of the property history and current environmental risks, a proper management strategy needs to be put in place that includes various scenarios and responses as well as preventive measures.

A comprehensive IAQ management strategy will take source control, ventilation and air cleaning into account. Regular ventilation systems are often not enough to remove harmful pollutants.

An easy and cost-efficient alternative to renovations is using an industrial-strength air cleaner with activated carbon and HEPA.

Electrocorp specializes in air treatment systems for the hospitality industry and for retail spaces that can remove chemicals, gases, odors, particles, dust, bacteria, viruses and mold.

Contact us for more information and a personalized recommendation.