Our Articles  |  Brands  | Curated Articles  |  About Us  |  Contact



01— Welcome to
Komoneed

02— About
Komoneed

03— Our Articles

04— Brands

05— Curated
Articles

06— Contact Us

Search

Living Near Golf Courses Linked to Higher Parkinson’s Disease Risk, Possibly From Pesticide Exposure

Komoneed

We are an online community created around a smart and easy to access information hub which is focused on providing proven global and local insights about sustainability

Curated Articles

0 Comment(s)

11 May, 2025

This post was originally published on Eco Watch

In a new study, scientists are raising concerns over exposure to pesticides used on golf courses. According to the research, there could be a link between living within three miles of a golf course and an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease.

The study, published in JAMA Network Open, analyzed data from more than 5,500 people living in Minnesota and Wisconsin, including 419 people with Parkinson’s disease and 5,113 matched controls. They also analyzed proximity to 139 different golf courses and compared people living in areas with local drinking water systems that include golf courses and water systems without golf courses.

Researchers determined that living within one mile of a golf course posed the greatest risks, with a 126% increase in chance of developing Parkinson’s disease compared to people living six or more miles from a golf course. Anyone living within three miles of the golf course also had elevated risks of developing the disease, but the risk became less notable after three miles.

However, it is not just airborne exposure that could be an issue. Even living in an area that shares water services with a golf course posed greater risks of developing Parkinson’s disease, according to the study. The analysis showed that people living in a water service area that included a golf course had nearly twice the chance of developing Parkinson’s disease compared to those living in water service areas without a golf course and a 49% higher chance compared to people living on properties with private wells.

The researchers suggested that the chemicals applied to golf courses could be the reason for higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, especially as these chemicals can leach into the groundwater. Common pesticides used on golf courses include chlorpyrifos and maneb, both neurotoxins, Psychiatrist.com reported.

A golf course maintenance worker sprays chemicals on a putting green. ChrisVanLennepPhoto / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Lead author Brittany Krzyzanowski, an assistant professor at Barrow Neurological Institute, told Medscape Medical News that the population-based study was observational, though, and those living near golf courses are not advised to just pick up and leave. More research is needed to prove any causal relationship, but the study findings can help individuals minimize their risks and encourage policymakers to address pesticide use.

While the study authors acknowledged geographical and population limitations to the study, other experts have cautioned people to consider other limitations that could impact the research.

“Parkinson’s starts in the brain 10-15 years before diagnosis and the study didn’t only use subjects who permanently lived in the area,” David Dexter, director of research at Parkinson’s UK, said in a statement. “This would not only affect participants’ exposure, but also suggests their Parkinson’s could have started before they moved around a golf course.”

However, even with the limitations, this potential link between proximity to golf courses and risk of developing Parkinson’s disease has scientists urging officials to reconsider methods of maintaining golf courses to better protect public health.

“These results raise concerns about how chemicals applied for aesthetics may silently shape neurological health,” Michael Okun, professor of neurology at the University of Florida and a medical advisor at the Parkinson’s Foundation, told Medscape Medical News. Okun said that use of pesticides on golf course could be leaching into water supplies, creating “a hidden hazard we can no longer ignore.”

The post Living Near Golf Courses Linked to Higher Parkinson’s Disease Risk, Possibly From Pesticide Exposure appeared first on EcoWatch.

Pass over the stars to rate this post. Your opinion is always welcome.
[Total: 0 Average: 0]

You may also like…

Circularity roadmap for construction industry announced

Circularity roadmap for construction industry announced

14 May, 2025

World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) has launched the Asia Pacific Regional Network (APN) Resources and Circularity Readiness Framework, presented at the WorldGBC hosted accelerator session, ‘Retrofitting buildings: Lessons from a global network’, as part of the World Circular Economy Forum 2025 (WCEF2025), a global event dedicated to the circular economy.

Developed by WorldGBC’s APN of 17 Green Building Councils (GBCs) as well as knowledge partners, the framework is a practical roadmap aimed at policymakers and businesses across the region to assess their circularity readiness and identify strategic priorities for action to decarbonise their building stock on both a national and regional scale.

The framework can be used as a tool to quantify the business case for circular, sustainable principles in the built environment, and support businesses and governments to reduce waste, conserve resources and lower carbon emissions. It shows the industry the practical steps it can take now towards circularity, based on its current capabilities. It sets out clear assessment criteria, specific readiness indicators and actionable guidance based on five interconnected elements:

Government leadership: Policies and regulations driving circularity at all levels.
Technical solutions: Innovative approaches enabling resource efficiency and circular material flows.
Data: Measurement systems tracking resource use and circularity progress.
Finance: Funding mechanisms supporting circular business models and infrastructure.
Mindset: Cultural shifts prioritising resource conservation and sustainable consumption.
 

The Framework further supports WorldGBC’s 2025–2027 strategic plan, which outlines the vision for a sustainable built environment, guided by global 2030 decarbonisation goals.

Joy Gai, Head of Asia Pacific Network, WorldGBC said, “The framework has been developed by sustainability experts from the Asia–Pacific, one of the most diverse regions in the world, which is defined by remarkable complexities of culture, building stocks and environmental conditions. Our network recognises that harnessing diversity is fundamental to shaping a more resilient, resource-efficient future — but we need a guide to show us how to put our ambition into action. That is why we developed the APN Resources and Circularity Readiness Framework.

“WorldGBC is proud to join our Green Building Councils and partners in launching this timely resource. It creates a common language to guide businesses through collaboration, identifying their needs and applying circular methods which support our shared vision for a sustainable and regenerative future for Asia–Pacific and beyond.”

Jeff Oatman, chair of the Asia Pacific Regional network, Head of Collaboration and membership at Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), added, “The Resources and Circularity Readiness Framework is a timely and much-needed initiative to accelerate the transition to a more regenerative and resource-efficient built environment across our region. By offering a clear pathway for assessing readiness and driving action, it empowers governments, industry and communities to make smarter, more sustainable decisions around circularity. I’m proud to be part of this collaboration and to contribute to a tool that not only fosters innovation but also supports practical outcomes that matter for people and the planet.”

Takuji Kohama, Chief Representative, AGC Group for Asia Pacific, also commented, “A resilient built environment relies on understanding ecological interconnections and making a conscious shift from linear consumption to cyclical resource stewardship. Designing buildings and infrastructures with their lifecycle in mind maximises material efficiency and minimises waste through a holistic approach from resource sourcing to end-of-life. Prioritising design for disassembly, material recovery, reuse and repurpose transforms buildings into dynamic material banks, significantly reducing construction’s environmental impact and fostering economic and environmental sustainability.

“Participating in the formulation of Resources and Circularity Readiness Framework offers a practical path to sustainable growth in our resource-constrained and climate-challenged region. This framework empowers built environment stakeholders to adopt a regenerative, resilient mindset focused on long-term value creation, redefining design, construction and living beyond waste minimisation. We aim to catalyse greater collaboration, innovation and systemic change, positioning AGC as a regional leader in circular economy practices and a model for urban sustainability.”

GBCs will use the framework to assess their own readiness to accelerate the transition to a circular economy in the built environment, as well as supporting the Asia–Pacific market. To find out more, head to the Green Building Council of Australia website.

Image credit: iStock.com/Benjamas Deekam

0 Comments