CITIZENS NEWS

Industrial chemical in outdoor air linked to 10% higher Parkinson's risk, new study finds

By isabelle // 2025-10-06

• A new study links airborne TCE exposure to a higher risk of Parkinson's disease.
• The chemical has polluted air and water, contaminating up to 30% of US drinking water.
• Federal regulators have been slow to act, with only two states banning most TCE uses.
• Experts are demanding a full ban on TCE and cleanup of contaminated sites.
• Global use of TCE is still projected to increase despite the known dangers.

Many of us step outside for a breath of fresh air, but what if the air itself is a slow-acting poison? For countless people living in the shadow of certain factories and industrial sites, this is not a hypothetical fear but a devastating reality, according to a new nationwide study that has thrust the industrial solvent trichloroethylene, or TCE, into the spotlight. The research, published in the medical journal Neurology, reveals that seniors living in areas with the highest levels of airborne TCE face a significantly increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease, a finding that exposes a severe public health failure by regulatory agencies. The study analyzed data from over 1.1 million Medicare beneficiaries. Researchers found a clear and alarming pattern. Older adults residing in neighborhoods with the highest concentrations of outdoor TCE had a 10% higher risk of being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease compared to those in areas with the lowest exposure. The threat was not evenly distributed. In a chilling discovery, the risk was four times higher for some individuals living downwind of major TCE-emitting factories. This is not a new or isolated problem. TCE is a chlorinated solvent that has been used for nearly a century in metal degreasing, dry cleaning, and various manufacturing processes. Despite being phased out of some consumer applications, its toxic legacy persists. The chemical is a persistent environmental pollutant that seeps into soil, groundwater, and the air we breathe. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has estimated that TCE has contaminated up to 30% of the nation's drinking water supplies.

A widespread and invisible threat

The danger of TCE lies in its pervasiveness and invisibility. Many people are exposed daily without any knowledge. The chemical can intrude into homes through vapor intrusion from contaminated groundwater, turning basements and living rooms into toxic gas chambers. Families living near industrial sites, military bases, or even in homes built above contaminated aquifers are at constant risk, breathing in TCE while sleeping, drinking it in tap water, and absorbing it through their skin in the shower. Mounting evidence from case studies, epidemiological research, and animal studies underscores the potential link between TCE exposure and Parkinson’s disease. A 2012 twin study found that exposure to TCE increased the risk of developing Parkinson’s by a staggering 500%. A separate analysis of Marines exposed to TCE-contaminated water at Camp Lejeune showed a 70% higher rate of Parkinson's disease.

Regulatory failure and corporate negligence

The response from federal regulators has been dangerously slow and ineffective. In January, the Environmental Protection Agency determined that TCE presents an unreasonable risk to human health. The EPA announced a ban on most TCE uses in 2024. However, this critical public health protection faces legal challenges from industry interests, leaving the chemical in use and millions of Americans unprotected. Currently, only two U.S. states have taken independent action to regulate TCE. Minnesota and New York have banned most uses of the chemical, highlighting a patchwork approach to a national crisis. The authors of the recent research and other experts are calling for comprehensive cleanup and containment of contaminated sites, as well as a complete ban on TCE use. Despite the known risks and the growing body of evidence, global TCE use is projected to increase by 3% annually. This continued production and use, despite the clear dangers, points to a system that prioritizes corporate profit over human life and well-being. The thousands of contaminated sites across the nation represent a toxic debt that will plague communities for generations. Sources for this article include: NaturalHealth365.com MedPageToday.com ScienceDaily.com

toxins research EPA chemicals dangerous Parkinson's Disease badhealth badpollution TCE