Objective:

To investigate residential proximity to golf courses and the potential for groundwater contamination on Parkinson’s disease (PD) risk. 

Background:

The role of pesticide exposure from golf courses on PD risk remains unclear.

Design/Methods:

We performed a population-based case-control study of 419 incident PD patients and 5,113 matched controls in the 27-county Rochester Epidemiology Project study area. Exposures included residential distance to golf courses, residence in water service areas containing a golf course, and residence in vulnerable groundwater regions. All models adjusted for age, sex, race, year of index, median household income, and urban/rural. 

Results:

After adjusting for patient demographics, median income, and rural/urban living, proximity to a golf course was associated with increased PD risk. Individuals living within 1 mile of a golf course had 126% increased odds of PD compared to those living farther than 6 miles away from a golf course (aOR = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.09 – 4.70). Individuals living within water service areas with a golf course had nearly double the odds of PD compared to individuals in water service areas without golf courses (aOR=1.96, 95% CI 1.20-3.23) and 49% greater odds compared to individuals with private wells (95% CI 1.05–2.13). Additionally, individuals living in water service areas with a golf course in vulnerable groundwater regions had 82% greater odds of PD compared to those in non-vulnerable groundwater regions (aOR=1.82, 95% CI 1.09-3.03). Our analysis of municipal wells revealed no association between PD risk and living in water service areas with shallow municipal wells (aOR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.24-1.64).

Conclusions:

The greatest risk of PD was found within 1 to 3 miles of a golf course and risk generally decreased with distance. The strongest associations were in water service areas with a golf course and in water service areas on vulnerable groundwater regions.