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A large study of over 31,000 people found that occupational exposure to seven industrial solvents — including TCE, kerosene, and carbon tetrachloride — is linked to significantly higher odds of Parkinson's disease. The risk grows with each additional solvent type encountered. Researchers are calling for longitudinal studies and urging clinicians to ask patients about lifetime occupational exposures.
Workers exposed to common industrial solvents may face a meaningfully higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease (PD), according to new research presented at the International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders 2026. A cross-sectional analysis of more than 31,000 participants identified seven solvents — trichloroethylene (TCE), kerosene, carbon tetrachloride, mineral spirits, methyl ethyl ketone, jet fuel, and toluene — all significantly associated with elevated odds of PD.
The dose-response relationship is particularly striking: each additional solvent type a person was exposed to raised their odds of PD by 17%. Researchers noted that while TCE has previously been flagged as a concern, most of the other solvents on this list have been largely understudied — making this one of the more comprehensive looks at individual solvent types to date.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Industrial solvents are widely used in manufacturing and cleaning, yet their role in neurological disease has received far less attention than pesticides and air pollution. Clinicians are being encouraged to routinely ask about occupational solvent exposure, and researchers say future work should focus on the compounding effects of combined solvent exposures — to better understand which combinations are most harmful and guide prevention efforts.
