New research suggests that living in close proximity to dry cleaning facilities may increase an individual's risk of developing Parkinson's disease. The study highlights significant clusters of the condition in areas with a high density of dry cleaners, including New York City. Parkinson's disease, the second most common neurological disorder affecting older adults, impacts approximately 1.1 million people in the United States and is characterized by the progressive weakening and death of nerve cells in the brain, leading to movement and balance issues, tremors, and stiffness.
Researchers found that individuals living within 500 feet of a dry cleaner exhibited a higher likelihood of developing Parkinson's compared to those living farther away. In the New York City area, extending into New Jersey, residents within this proximity had a 13% increased chance of Parkinson's. The study also identified other areas with notable correlations, including Southern Illinois, along the Tennessee-Kentucky border, central Pennsylvania, and north-central Indiana. Southern Illinois showed the most significant association, with individuals living within 500 feet of a dry cleaner more than twice as likely to develop Parkinson's.
The study points to trichloroethylene (TCE) as a potential contributing chemical. TCE has been used for decades in various applications, including dry cleaning, and has been linked to adverse health effects. While TCE use in dry cleaning has been phased out in many states, including New York, and a nationwide ban was enacted by the EPA in 2024, related chemicals are still in use. Perchloroethylene (PCE), also known as perc, is currently undergoing a 10-year phase-out. PCE can evaporate and enter nearby buildings through a process called vapor intrusion. Health concerns associated with TCE include miscarriages, birth defects, and a significantly increased risk of Parkinson's disease.
It is important to note that the risk is primarily linked to exposure through inhalation or direct skin contact with these chemicals, not through wearing dry-cleaned clothes. Many dry cleaners have also adopted environmentally friendlier alternatives, such as liquid CO2 cleaning and silicone-based solvents. Beyond dry cleaning chemicals, previous research has indicated that exposure to pesticides and pollutants, often associated with occupations like farming or landscaping, also elevates the risk of Parkinson's disease.