Living Near Dry Cleaners Linked to Higher Parkinson's Risk, Study Finds

A recent investigation has uncovered a link between proximity to dry-cleaning facilities and an increased likelihood of Parkinson’s disease, the second-most common neurodegenerative disorder among older adults. Individuals residing within 500 feet—approximately two north-south blocks in Manhattan—of a dry cleaner exhibited the highest risk, while those living several miles away showed lower incidence. The study points to chemicals such as trichloroethylene, long banned in many states, and perchloroethylene, still in use but scheduled for a decade-long phase-out, as possible contributors through vapor intrusion and direct contact.

Disease clusters with similar patterns were also detected in Southern Illinois, along the Tennessee-Kentucky border, central Pennsylvania and north-central Indiana. Although many dry cleaners are adopting “green” alternatives, the research underscores the importance of environmental toxins alongside genetics and aging in Parkinson’s development.