A CASE-CONTROL STUDY OF PARKINSONS-DISEASE IN A HORTICULTURAL REGION OF BRITISH-COLUMBIA

We compared personal histories of 127 cases and 245 controls to identi fy possible environmental risk factors for idiopathic parkinsonism (IP ). Of our controls, 121 had cardiac disease (CD) and 124 were randomly selected from electoral lists (voters). Using logistic regression and adjusting for sex and age, we ran separate analyses: IP versus CD and IP versus voters. A full occupational history was collected, as was k nown contact with all pesticides associated with the tree fruit sector of the agricultural industry. We found a significant association betw een IP and having had an occupation in which exposure through handling or directly contacting pesticides was probable, but no specific chemi cals were associated with IP. We conclude that although occupations in volving the use of agricultural chemicals may predispose to the develo pment of IP, it seems likely that the pathogenesis is multifactorial r ather than related to a specific agent.