Rates of Parkinson’s disease are exploding. A common chemical may be to blame | Parkinson's disease | The Guardian

TCE is a carcinogen linked to renal cell carcinoma, cancers of the cervix, liver, biliary passages, lymphatic system and male breast tissue, and fetal cardiac defects, among other effects.

Its known relationship to Parkinson’s may be overlooked due to the fact that exposure to TCE can predate the disease’s onset by decades. While some people exposed may sicken quickly, others may unknowingly work or live on contaminated sites for most of their lives before developing symptoms of Parkinson’s.

Policy and effective government intervention are crucial when it comes to testing, monitoring and remediating TCE contaminated sites, and that it’s important to raise awareness of TCE’s role in surging rates of Parkinson’s.

Failure to address the issue will continue to negatively affect people’s health, as Parkinson’s is characterized by slow, progressive degeneration and has no cure.