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Industry, not traffic, contributes to air pollution risk of Parkinson's U of T researcher examines data from Toronto, Hamilton Jul 11/07 by Sonnet L’Abbé A University of Toronto study is the first in North America to draw a link between Parkinson’s and industry-generated manganese air pollution. Parkinson's is a brain disorder that results from damage to the cells that produce dopamine, a chemical that allows for smooth, co-ordinated function of the body's muscles and movement. Murray Finkelstein, assistant professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine, worked with Berkeley professor Michael Jerrett to compare the incidence of diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson’s with markers of exposure to vehicle exhaust and industrial emissions in the cities of Toronto and Hamilton. The study, which examined a cohort of 110,000 subjects over three years, appears in this month’s issue of Environmental Research. The study was sparked by interest in the effects of methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT), an agent added to Canadian gasoline for many years to reduce engine knocking. In Toronto, the researchers found no association between Parkinson’s diagnosis and exposure to manganese through traffic-generated air pollution. In Hamilton, the odds of a physician diagnosing Parkinson’s increased with the amount of ambient manganese in the air. “The results suggest that the manganese threat posed by traffic-generated pollution may be relatively small, but that exposure to ambient manganese in the air from sources like steel foundries does advance the age of diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease,” said Finkelstein. “This study supports the theory that exposure to manganese adds to the natural loss of neurons attributable to the aging process.” ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn