You have to be the right age group for this one and it may be a regional thing but . . Apparently running behind the mosquito truck was NOT a good idea.
Epidemiologists (people who study outbreaks of diseases) are beginning to link cases of Parkinson’s Disease to individuals occupationally (at work) exposed to pesticides. Specifically, the study focused upon French farm workers (a potential oxymoron) who used and were close to the use of organochlorine based insecticides, including DDT which has been long banned in the United States.
The Paris-based researchers have reported early results suggesting an increased risk for Parkinson’s Disease among that group. While the study drew no conclusions for common backyard gardeners, if the results relative to professional farm workers are supported, it might be a good idea to just put down the spray can and find more environmentally, and people-healthy ways of ridding yourself of those bugs eating your tomatoes.
posted by David Marc Schwadron, Esq.