If this shop is near your home, you're at risk!

A comprehensive study that examined the health records of more than 19 million people in the United States revealed a striking potential link between living near dry‑cleaning businesses and Parkinson’s disease.

In a study published in the journal npj Parkinson’s Disease, health data of Americans aged 67 and older were examined between 2016 and 2018. Researchers accounted for variables that could influence the outcomes, such as age, sex, race, and income level.

According to the findings, people living within about 150 metres of a dry‑cleaning shop had a 14 percent higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease compared with those living kilometres away. The risk increase rose to 23 percent in cases where walking and mobility difficulties were prominent, and to 25 percent in cases linked to dementia.

Skepticism focuses on chemical solvents.

The study centres on trichloroethylene (TCE), a solvent that has been used in the dry‑cleaning industry for decades. Experts say that vapours released into the environment from these businesses, or chemicals that seep into soil and groundwater, could pose a long‑term health risk for residents in the surrounding area.

Among the study’s authors, Brad Racette, a neurologist at the Barrow Neurological Institute, says the results add new evidence supporting a possible link between environmental pollution and Parkinson’s disease.

Earlier studies had also found evidence that environmental factors such as air pollution, microplastics, and pesticides could be linked to neurological diseases. It was also suggested that pesticides heavily used on golf courses could increase the Parkinson risk for people living in the surrounding area.

The study does not establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship.

Scientists emphasize that the new study does not prove that dry‑cleaning businesses or the chemicals used in them directly cause Parkinson's disease. The findings point to only a statistical association between the two conditions.

However, the study's broad population coverage indicates that the effects of environmental chemicals on human health need to be examined in greater detail. According to experts, aging infrastructure, chemical leaks, and regional environmental conditions could be factors that increase the risk.

Researchers recommend tighter monitoring of air, soil, and water quality around dry‑cleaning facilities, and new studies that will uncover the effects of prolonged exposure to chemicals.