Occupational categories at risk for Parkinson's disease

Background The etiology of Parkinson's disease (PD) is considered to have a strong environmental component, but relatively few studies have investigat ed the potential association between occupation and the disease. Methods In a population-based case-control study we collected collected com prehensive occupational histories from all study participants, 144 case and 464 control subjects. Results Chi-square analysis revealed that working in an agricultural occupa tion increased estimated PD risk (OR = 1.74; 95% CI = 0.85, 3.60). In contr ast, a history of ever working in a service occupation was negatively assoc iated with PD risk (OR = 0.69; 95% CI = 0.47, 1.00). Risk estimates were cl ose to one for specific service occupations. Adjusted odds ratios for all n on-service occupational and industrial categories were similar, and working in a service occupation was the only significant inverse predictor of PD r isk. Conclusions Future investigations focusing on lifestyle factors mid environ mental exposures within the agricultural and service occupational categorie s are warranted. Am. J. Ind. Med. 39:564-571, 2001. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, In c.