MISSION ACCOMPLISHED FOR MANY ORGANIZATIONS AND PARKINSON QUÉBEC: THE RECOGNITION OF PARKINSON’S DISEASE AS AN OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESS.
Montreal, March 30 2021 – For some years, the impact pesticides have on human health has been a subject of great interest to the general population and to pesticides’ main users: farmers. For two years, Parkinson Québec has worked with many groups on this societal issue.
Today, Mr. Jean Boulet, Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Solidarity, recognized the harm caused to people exposed to pesticides who have developed Parkinson’s disease. Quebec thus becomes the second region, after France, to recognize Parkinson’s disease as an occupational illness.
Pesticides, intended to improve our agricultural productivity and food security, are a public health issue. Because of their massive use, we are all a little more at risk of developing Parkinson’s disease and other chronic illnesses.
Evidence of a link between pesticide exposure and the development of Parkinson’s disease is staggering.
- Some pesticides are used to artificially create the disease in laboratory animals in order to test new medications.
- In humans, this link was first studied in Montérégie in the 1980s. At the time, the prevalence of the disease and the amount of pesticide used was greater than anywhere else in Quebec.
- Since then, epidemiological studies conducted throughout the world have come to the same conclusion: occupational and residential exposure to pesticides at least doubles the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.
After numerous consultations with the scientific, agricultural and Parkinson Québec communities, the Minister recognized the weight of the evidence and demonstrated his sensitivity to the hardships of those affected by the disease.
The government could go even further in its solidarity with those who, sometimes at the expense of their health, feed us and maintain our land. Following the example of France, it could develop a compensation fund for all victims who have not contributed to a protection plan due to a lack of information on the dangerous nature of these products.
On behalf of the entire Parkinson community of Quebec, Parkinson Québec would like to thank Minister Jean Boulet, the members of the parliamentary committee, as well as all the groups from civil society who are working to build a fairer and safer Quebec for our workers, and more particularly, our farmers.
Parkinson Québec | Parkinson Québec is the reference for the Parkinson community and health professionals, as well as the provincial spokesperson for the 25 000 Quebecers living with Parkinson’s disease and their loved ones. It encourages self-empowerment and represents the Parkinson community to defend its rights and interests. It also contributes to research on Parkinson’s disease.
Press release in PDF format: click here
Read the report on pesticides (available in french only) : click here