Rotenone and Parkinson's Disease

Rotenone is a chemical used in many products such as pesticide and insect and fish poisons. It is derived from plant roots, such as those from the jicama plant. In 2000, clinical studies showed that rotenone can cause Parkinson's Disease in test rats when injected directly.

Uses

• Discovered by Emmanuel Geoffroy in the late 1800s, rotenone is most commonly used by fisheries to kill off unwanted fish, such as invasive species living in non-indigenous environments. Several indigenous tribes would use rotenone to kill fish and harvest their floating bodies. However, in the United States and Canada, governments are trying to phase out rotenone use as a piscicide. It is also used to kill mites on chickens.

Toxic

• According to the World Health Organization, rotenone is fairly toxic to humans and mammals while being deadly for fish and insects. Since the human body reacts by vomiting when ingesting strong doses of rotenone, it is rarely fatal. Until 2005, organic farmers were allowed to use rotenone on their crops until growing concerns over its safety forced its removal from allowable organic farming materials.

Parkinson's Disease

• Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological condition where the primary symptoms are shaking and difficulty walking. People with Parkinson's have trouble speaking and sometimes the muscles in the face become frozen. Parkinson's occurs when the brain stops producing dopamine, a chemical messenger. While it was long thought Parkinson's is a genetic condition, recent studies show that environmental factors can lead it to its development.

Parkinson's Disease Connection?

• Though a study in 2000 published in Nature Neuroscience did not prove rotenone causes Parkinson's Disease in humans, it provided enough evidence that scientists are now pursuing environmental concerns as the causative agent for conditions such as Parkinson's Disease. However, in a study conducted by Emory University, half of the rats injected with rotenone developed Parkinson's. Rotenone supposedly killed brain cells that produce dopamine and left protein deposits in the brain.

Other Factors

• Rotenone is also under investigation as the cause of other diseases. Though tests have been inconclusive about rotenone's influence on cancer, there were some instances where injected rats developed breast tumors. It is also not listed as an endocrine-disruptor or affects pregnant women. Rotenone breaks down in the open air in a few days, but can remain in water for months.