Progress and Prospects in Parkinson's Research/Causes/Toxins/Dieldrin

Background
Dieldrin is an insecticide which was invented in the 1940s. However once it is used it is persistent and seems to gain in toxicity as it passes up through the food chain. It has been linked to a number of diseases in humans and, as a result, it has been banned in many countries.

Research
2001

Uversky et al showed that pesticides including Dieldrin were responsible for the formation of alpha-synuclein fibrils in dopaminergic neurons.

2005

Kanthasamy et al produced evidence linking Dieldrin to the onset of Parkinson’s Disease.

2006

Richardson et al  established the toxicity of Dieldrin to dopaminergic neurons. Their conclusions state:-

"'These data suggest that developmental exposure to dieldrin leads to persistent alterations of the developing dopaminergic system and that these alterations induce a 'silent' state of dopamine dysfunction, thereby rendering dopamine neurons more vulnerable later in life.'"

2007

Hatcher et al demonstrated that dopaminergic neurons (in mice) were severely damaged by Dieldrin.