Pesticides used on US golf courses are linked to an 82% increased risk of Parkinson's disease in nearby residents, particularly those reliant on vulnerable groundwater sources. Digest
Golf courses are among the largest users of pesticides in the United States, applying up to 15 times more than their European counterparts. These chemicals can leach into the surrounding environment, raising concerns about long-term health risks for nearby residents. A recent study found that people living near golf courses were 82% more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease, especially if their homes relied on groundwater susceptible to pesticide contamination.
Researchers examined medical records from more than 5,500 people in the northern United States. They compared people newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease between 1991 and 2015 with people who did not develop the condition. They also looked at how far participants lived from golf courses, whether they relied on municipal drinking water, and whether their water came from areas with shallow wells or vulnerable groundwater.
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They found that people living within one mile of a golf course were more than twice as likely to develop Parkinson’s disease as those residing more than six miles away. Residents in neighborhoods with a golf course and municipal water service were nearly twice as likely to be diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease as those in similar areas without a golf course and about 50% more likely than those using private wells. The risk was particularly elevated—82% higher—when the golf course was situated in a region with groundwater susceptible to contamination.
These findings suggest that pesticides used on golf courses seep into the groundwater and contribute to Parkinson’s disease in nearby residents, particularly in areas where the water supply is more easily contaminated. Learn more about environmental exposures and Parkinson’s disease risk in this clip featuring Dr. Giselle Petzinger.