Dry Cleaning Chemical Found to Harm Brain Cells and Raise Parkinson's Risk

Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health

Briana Mercola

Health & Fitness, Alternative Health

4.6 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 29 November 2025

⏱️ 7 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

A study of more than 1.3 million Americans found that people living in areas with high trichloroethylene (TCE) levels had a 10% greater risk of Parkinson's disease than those in cleaner regions
TCE, a solvent once used in dry cleaning and degreasing, persists in air, soil, and groundwater for decades, exposing people through contaminated water and indoor air — even far from industrial sites
Laboratory research revealed that TCE damages dopamine-producing neurons, disrupts mitochondrial energy production, and causes toxic protein buildup like that seen in Parkinson's patients
The studies show that chronic, low-level exposure to environmental toxins silently erodes brain health over time, especially in older adults with weakened cellular repair systems
Reducing exposure through clean water, good ventilation, and low-toxin household choices — while supporting your cells through restorative sleep, regular movement, and whole, unprocessed foods — helps protect mitochondrial energy production and strengthen long-term neurological resilience

Transcript

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0:00.0	Could breathing an invisible cleaning solvent raise your risk for Parkinson's disease even if you've never stepped foot in a factory?
0:07.0	Welcome to Dr. Mercola's cellular wisdom. Stay informed with quick, easy-to-listen summaries of our latest articles, perfect for when you're on the go.
0:16.0	No reading required. Subscribe for free at Mercola.com for the latest health insights. Hello, and welcome to Dr. Mercola's cellular wisdom. I'm Ethan Foster, and today we're
0:26.4	looking at trichloroethylene, TCE, a dry cleaning and degreasing chemical that lingers in air, soil,
0:34.1	and groundwater for decades. I'll walk you through new evidence linking everyday exposure
0:39.1	to higher Parkinson's risk and what you can do to lower your exposure and support cellular health.
0:45.5	I'm Alara Sky. This episode focuses on two core findings. Population data tying higher community
0:52.6	TCE levels to more Parkinson's diagnoses, and lab research
0:57.2	showing how TCE harms dopamine-producing neurons by disrupting mitochondrial energy production and
1:03.3	driving toxic protein buildup.
1:06.0	We'll keep the discussion practical and centered on steps you can take now.
1:10.0	A national analysis of more than 1.3 million older Americans found that people living in areas
1:15.6	with the highest TCE concentrations had about a 10% greater risk of Parkinson's disease than those in the lowest exposure regions.
1:23.6	The association held after accounting for age, sex, and regional factors, which
1:28.9	points to a persistent environmental influence rather than chance. That pattern showed up on the
1:34.0	map, too. Researchers saw clusters of Parkinson's cases around known TCE emitting facilities,
1:40.8	including parts of Oregon, Indiana, and the Midwest.
1:45.0	Risk fell with distance from those emission sites.
1:48.0	Communities remained exposed long after industrial activity stopped
1:52.0	because TCE persists in groundwater and soil and can migrate into indoor air.
1:58.0	Early neurological warning signs were more common in higher exposure regions,
2:03.2	things like balance problems, falls, and mild cognitive decline. Those clues often appear
	...

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