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 PRESS STATEMENT
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New "Parkinson's" research highlights flaws in regulatory controls for pesticides

A new study released today warning of the increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease 
highlights again the flaws in regulatory controls for pesticides says leading pesticides 
campaigner Georgina Downs.

The study involved nearly 3,000 people in five European countries and found that gardeners had 
a 9 per cent greater risk of contracting the disease than people who had not come into contact 
with pesticides. However, high-exposure users, such as farmers were 43 per cent more likely to 
get the disease.

Ms. Downs states "This is a very significant study and highlights again that the controls that are 
currently in place for pesticides are not as strict as the Government, industry and others perceive 
them to be." 

Ms. Downs points out other high-exposure groups, such as people living near fields that are 
regularly sprayed, will not be wearing protective clothing, especially as there is currently no 
legal obligation to warn people before any spraying application to enable them to take the 
necessary precautions to protect themselves.

The Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides, Professor David Coggon has stated that 
the study did not identify individual pesticides and said, "It's possible that just one or two are 
causing it, but slipped through the regulatory net."

In response to this Ms. Downs states that "This is completely unacceptable when we are talking 
about the protection of people's health. There are inherent uncertainties and serious data gaps 
in the current risk assessment processes, as pesticides are only tested one at a time. With the 
"cocktails" of pesticides that are currently used, particularly in agriculture, then the culprit may 
not just simply be "one or two" pesticides that may be causing it, but the synergistic effects from 
repeated exposures to innumerable mixtures of hazardous chemicals, many of which have 
neurotoxic capabilities. This is especially applicable for pesticide users and people who live near 
regularly sprayed fields." 

Ms. Downs points out that the only way to truly protect public health and prevent any illnesses 
and diseases that may be associated with pesticides is to avoid exposure altogether through the 
widespread adoption of sustainable non-chemical and natural methods as an alternative to 
chemical pest control.

Notes to Editors:-

- The Geoparkinson study, funded by the European Commission, involved volunteers in 
Scotland, Italy, Sweden, Romania and Malta. For further information see the New 
Scientist magazine published today 26th May 2005 
- For further information on Georgina Downs' campaign regarding the effects of pesticides 
on people in agricultural areas see www.pesticidescampaign.co.uk 

- Ms Downs continues to receive emails and letters from people all over the country 
reporting clusters of acute and chronic long-term illnesses and diseases in communities 
surrounded by sprayed fields. Cases of Parkinson's disease along with other neurological 
conditions are among the diseases that have been reported to Ms. Downs

- The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (RCEP) is currently carrying out a 
study to assess the risk to people from crop-spraying and pesticide exposure. See 
www.rcep.org.uk for further information on the RCEP study

Contact: Georgina Downs 
Telephone: 01243 773846 
Mobile: 07906 898 915 
Email: georginadowns@yahoo.co.uk 
www.pesticidescampaign.co.uk