Living Near a Dry Cleaner May Be Linked to Higher Parkinson’s Risk
- Stephanie Soto
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
A new U.S. study is raising questions about whether long-term exposure to chemicals associated with dry cleaning could play a role in Parkinson’s disease. Researchers examined health and location data from more than 19 million Medicare beneficiaries age 67 and older. The study compared approximately 181,000 people who were newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease with more than 18.8 million people who did not have the disease. The researchers found that people who lived closer to a dry cleaner were more likely to have Parkinson’s disease than those who lived farther away.
The strongest association was among people living within 500 feet
People who lived within approximately 500 feet of a dry cleaner had 14% higher odds of Parkinson’s disease compared with people who lived four to five miles away. The association was even stronger for Parkinson’s involving gait disturbance or postural instability. Individuals living within about 500 feet had approximately 23% higher odds of developing this form of Parkinson’s compared with those living farther away. Interestingly, the researchers did not observe the same relationship with Parkinson’s primarily characterized by tremor.
Could dry-cleaning chemicals be involved?
One possible explanation is exposure to chemicals used in dry cleaning, particularly trichloroethylene (TCE). TCE is a solvent that has been used in dry-cleaning and industrial settings. It can persist in soil, air, and groundwater for long periods. Previous research has raised concerns about potential neurological effects associated with TCE exposure. However, there is an important limitation to this study: the researchers did not measure TCE exposure in the individuals studied. Instead, they used the distance between a person's home and a dry cleaner as an indirect measure of possible exposure. Therefore, the study cannot establish that TCE—or any other dry-cleaning chemical—caused Parkinson’s disease.
Location appeared to matter
Although the association was observed in multiple areas of the United States, some regions showed considerably stronger relationships. The researchers identified notable associations in areas including the Dallas–Fort Worth region, the Detroit area, portions of Pennsylvania and Indiana, southern California, parts of the South, and the New York City metropolitan area extending into New Jersey.
In southern Illinois, for example, living within approximately 500 feet of a dry cleaner was associated with substantially higher odds of Parkinson’s compared with living farther away in that region. These regional differences may be important for future research because they could help researchers identify environmental factors that contribute to Parkinson’s risk.
Does living near a dry cleaner mean you will develop Parkinson’s?
No.
This is an observational study, meaning researchers identified an association between two factors but could not establish a cause-and-effect relationship. People who live near dry cleaners may differ from people who live farther away in numerous ways. Other environmental exposures, occupational history, socioeconomic factors, neighborhood characteristics, and other variables could potentially influence the results. The study therefore does not mean that someone living next to a dry cleaner is destined to develop Parkinson’s disease.
Why the findings are still important
Parkinson’s disease is a complex neurological disorder, and its causes are believed to involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Research into environmental exposures could help scientists better understand why some people develop the disease while others do not.
The findings of this study add to the growing interest in environmental chemicals and neurological health. They also highlight the need for studies that directly measure exposure to TCE and other chemicals rather than relying on residential distance as a substitute.
The bottom line
Living closer to a dry cleaner was associated with higher odds of Parkinson’s disease among older U.S. adults in this study, with the strongest association among those living within about 500 feet.
However, the study does not prove that dry cleaners or their chemicals cause Parkinson’s disease. More research is needed to determine whether specific chemical exposures are responsible for the observed association and, if so, how those exposures may contribute to neurological disease.
Source: