In October 2006, a court in Bourges, France, recognized Parkinson’s Disease as an occupational disease, following a complaint from a retired agricultural worker suffering from the disease since 1997. It is the first time such a decision has been taken by a court, since Parkinson’s is not on the official list of diseases considered to have an occupational origin.

Although the decision will not influence other court cases, it has serious consequences for employers who can no longer ignore the importance of communicating and preventing the risks of neurotoxic pesticides. Jean-Luc Dupupet, doctor from Caisse Centrale from Mutualité Sociale Agricole claims that exposure to neurotoxic pesticides doubles the risk of contracting Parkinson’s. He supports his claim citing numerous scientific studies recently published. An epidemiological study conducted in France between 1999 and 2001 entitled ‘Terre’ concludes that the risk of developing Parkinson’s is multiplied by 1.9 for those exposed to pesticide and for agriculture workers. A meta-review of 19 studies of the disease concluded that the risk of developing Parkinson’s is multiplied by 1.9 among people with professional exposure to pesticides. And finally, an American study conducted by the team of Alberto Ascherio from Harvard following a population of 143,325 people for several years showed that exposure to pesticides increases the risk of contracting Parkinson’s by 1.7.