Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a chemical substance found in industrial cleaners and degreasers. It is also found in consumer products such as lubricants, adhesives, sealants, paints, coatings, automotive care products, and cleaning products. If it is spilled or carelessly disposed of, TCE becomes an environmental pollutant, finding its way into the air, soil, and water supply. Long term environmental exposure to high levels of TCE has been found to be associated with an increased risk for Parkinson’s disease.
The Rust belt states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York are areas of highest concentration of TCE and contain “thousands of sites contaminated with the persistent chemicals in the U.S. and globally.” Living within 1-3 miles of such a site (abandoned factory, warehouse, gas station), or a golf course that uses pesticides containing TCE, has been shown to have a positive association with Parkinson’s risk.
The degree of risk is dependent upon the concentration/dose of TCE to which the people are exposed. People who live in areas with the highest concentration of ambient TCE had a significantly greater risk of Parkinson’s disease than those who lived in the lowest concentration areas. An example of a high concentration area was Rochester, NY which alone has more than 100 sites that emit trichloroethylene or perchloroethylene, a similar pollutant.
Knowing this information may impact the frequency of Parkinson’s disease. If a chemical can be found to neutralize, or limit, the environmental contamination of industrial facilities, it could lead to significant procedures or protocols to prevent the disease. If TCE is a cause of Parkinson’s, finding the perfect counter to it will spare “millions [from] suffering with a preventable disease and generations [will be] spared from the indignity and disability of a terrible one [disease].”
References: Craven J. Exposure to Commonly Used Chemical Tied to Parkinson’s Disease Risk. Medscape 2025 October 7.
Krzyzanowski B, Beyene KM, Turner JR, Racette BA. Ambient Trichloroethylene Exposure and Parkinson’s Disease Risk in Medicare Beneficiaries. Neurology 2025 October 21;105(8):e214174.
Krzyzanowski B, et al. JAMA Network Open 2025 May 1;8(5):e259198.
