As I have written before, I do wonder if my husband's PD, and his mother's were triggered by exposure to pesticides in cut flowers that they both worked with when he was a teenager. For example, rotenone is a common pesticide (considered "organic" because it comes from a plant), that is now used to deliberately cause PD in lab animals for scientific research into treating PD.

Definitely, yes!! I was exposed to formaldehyde, resins used in printing, fertilizers,paints and glue in the space of a month or so in about 1995. It effected me neurological, at the time. I was diagnosed in 2004. Given that a person has Parkinson's for 7-10 years before the diagnosis, ....well, do the math. By the time I was diagnosed, I was very ill. I was aware that my brain was not working well. I told my husband that I felt as though I was "disappearing".
Pam

This is Dave, Carolyn's husband responding, I am the one with mild PD. I have lived in the Long Beach / Lakewood area of Los Angeles County for 72 years. I worked around diesel trucks for 25 years and so I was exposed to a lot of smog. Did this cause my PD? Who knows. I have also eat a lot of gluten and MSG and drank beverages with Aspertame. All these things are suspected as contributing to the increase of all the neurological disorders that are being diagnosed these days. Air pollution has been reduced, I don't eat as much gluten and MSG. And I stay away from Aspertame. It is probably too late to see any improvement in my symptoms but I will give try anything to at least keep my PD mild. I will take my meds, exercise, modify my diet and pray like crazy. And do not forget, reduce your stress because it only makes PD worse.

As a smoker for 30 years, I can't say smoking is protective, as I have PD...I have seen studies which show nicotine improves concentration...That one I agree with...NOTE I do not advocate smoking!!!

I grew up 5 miles outside of the nearest town (not far)...Massive powerlines ran through the field behind the street I grew up on...The street was 26 houses on one road and a court, fields on each side (growing feed corn)...It was a family neighborhood with many kids the age of my siblings and I....To date, that I know of, 7 of us under 50 have either been dx'd with PD or MS...We were all in our 30's when we started having symptoms...We all had well water...