Bass Bloom: There is no evidence of a relationship between glyphosate and Parkinson's disease | Akkerwijzer.nl
There is no evidence of a relationship between glyphosate and Parkinson's disease. Neurologist Bas Bloom said this today at a meeting of the Sprint study on the effects of crop protection products on health. “There are several cases of people with Parkinson's disease having extensive exposure to glyphosate, but this is not conclusive evidence yet.”
Parkinson's disease is the fastest growing disease worldwide. In the Netherlands, the number of new cases is stable. “We have taken some good steps here. The substances of most concern such as paraquat and mancozeb are banned.” What about the substances that are currently allowed? “I have often expressed concern about current resource policy. I'm not saying that current treatments are the cause of Parkinson's disease. I don't know, but the current admission policy doesn't look at the number of cells in the brain, for example. If damage occurs there, you can't see it right away from the outside.
Exposure to cocktails
Glyphosate, in combination with another substance, can cause cell loss in the brain. This is one of Bloom's concerns. “We only look at the effects of individual substances. You also have to look at the effects of exposure to cocktails.
Bloom does not support a direct ban on glyphosate. “Let's not play panic football. I don't want to upset farmers, I want everyone to be able to live and work happily in the countryside.” He calls for a better evaluation framework for products containing glyphosate. “Make good agreements with the Financial Regulatory Authority on bulk glyphosate.” And in cocktails. If in the coming years this substance turns out to be toxic, we can still ban it.
Genetics, environment and lifestyle
According to the neurologist, the occurrence of Parkinson's disease is related to heredity, environment and lifestyle. The genetic component is small but present. The neurologist is very concerned about the development of Parkinson's disease.
This disease is diagnosed in men more than women. According to Bloom, this is because men in general often work with toxic materials, such as farmers and metalworkers. Bloom also noted that it is not a disease of the elderly. “Yes, you see it more often in older people, but this also applies to lung cancer, for example. The older you are, the longer you are exposed to a certain substance, which increases your risk of developing the disease.
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