Lifestyle
Golf Course Proximity Linked to Higher Parkinson’s Risk: New Study Reveals Surprising Findings
The allure of living near a golf course is undeniable, offering picturesque views and the promise of leisurely days spent on the greens. Yet, a recent study has unveiled a surprising downside: residing close to a golf course might heighten your risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. This risk is primarily attributed to the pesticides used to maintain these lush landscapes.
Golf courses are maintained with a variety of pesticides, including weedkillers and insecticides, to preserve their pristine appearance. However, a 2023 study published in the journal Science of The Total Environment highlights a stark difference in pesticide risk between the U.S. and several European countries like the U.K., Denmark, and Norway. In these European nations, golf course superintendents have access to “20 or fewer active [pesticide] ingredients,” whereas in the U.S., some states permit up to 250 active ingredients.
The study further identified that the Southern U.S., particularly East Texas and Florida, sees the greatest pesticide risk from greens, while in other regions, such as the Northwest, Midwest, and Northeast, fairways pose the highest threat. This difference underscores the regional variability in pesticide application and its potential health impacts.
Pesticides like 2,4-D and glyphosate, commonly used in products such as Roundup, have been linked to serious health issues. The herbicide 2,4-D is associated with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and is classified as a possible human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Similarly, glyphosate has led to numerous lawsuits due to its alleged carcinogenic properties.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns that even seemingly less harmful weed killers can contain compounds like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which may contaminate groundwater. The EPA cautions, “When lawn chemicals are applied improperly, they can run off into streams, harming fish and other animals and contaminating our drinking water.”
The connection between pesticide exposure and Parkinson’s disease has been a growing area of research. Notably, a 2011 National Institutes of Health (NIH) study found that exposure to pesticides such as rotenone and paraquat significantly increased the risk of Parkinson’s. Freya Kamel, PhD, a co-author of the study, explained, “Rotenone directly inhibits the function of the mitochondria, the structure responsible for making energy in the cell.”
A 2023 study by researchers from UCLA Health and Harvard identified ten pesticides that “significantly damaged neurons implicated in the development of Parkinson’s disease.” Among these, paraquat dichloride stands out as particularly dangerous and is banned in many countries outside the U.S.
The latest findings, published in JAMA Network Open, explore the impact of living near golf courses on Parkinson’s risk. The study utilized data from the Rochester Epidemiology Project, covering 27 counties in Minnesota and Wisconsin, home to 139 golf courses. The sample included 419 Parkinson’s cases and 5,113 controls, revealing a 126 percent increased risk of Parkinson’s for those residing within one mile of a golf course compared to those living more than six miles away.
Furthermore, individuals in water service areas with golf courses had nearly double the odds of developing Parkinson’s. The risk was even greater in regions with karst topography, which facilitates the movement of pesticides into groundwater. Brittany Krzyzanowski, PhD, one of the study’s authors, explained, “Karst topography describes a region with limestone bedrock that slowly dissolves over time, creating underground voids that allow water from the surface to move more rapidly through it.”
To mitigate exposure, Krzyzanowski advises using a carbon water filter and recommends staying indoors when local golf courses apply pesticides. The research team plans to expand their study to a national scale, incorporating data from over 22 million Medicare beneficiaries and approximately 16,000 golf courses.
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