- by Brian Donnelly
I was a firefighter for many years, so naturally I wondered if entering burning buildings and sustaining a few head injuries could have caused my Parkinson's disease, or contributed to it. You may also have similar questions about the cause of your Parkinson's. Perhaps some of the things I learned will help you identify some experiences in your life that could have contributed.
I will never know for sure why I contracted Parkinson's disease... one of many Parkinsonisms. Nevertheless, in my search for answers I contacted the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), and asked them if they had any information about firefighters who contract Parkinson's disease. The staff there did some good fact checking for me and compiled some information. A physician from the Health and Safety Department of the IAFF provided some good insights so, I will share a few comments from the letter she wrote:
Several studies have shown that people who experience head injuries are at a greater risk of developing Parkinsonism. One study found that the odds of developing Parkinson's disease was six times higher in subjects who had experienced a head injury. A recently published study of twins found a prior head injury with amnesia or loss of consciousness was associated with an almost four-fold increased risk for PD.
A 1990 study of Houston fire fighters indicated that Parkinsonism was significantly more common in fire fighters than in the general population. This was demonstrated by a finding of 3-4 cases per 1,000 in the general population compared to 30 Parkinson's cases per 1,000 firefighters.
Occupational toxins known to cause secondary Parkinsonism include: carbon monoxide, carbon disulfide, and manganese. Occupational exposure to other metals (copper, lead, iron, mercury, zinc, and aluminum) appears to impart risk for Parkinson's disease in some studies.
The doctor also listed other chemical compounds such as wood preservatives, organic solvents, plastics, and pesticides. Of the hundreds of fires I battled, I inhaled plenty of carbon monoxide. When I would respond to fires and emergencies in business and industrial settings, I do not know if I was ever exposed to carbon disulfide, manganese, or other metals. I fought electrical fires breathing in the fumes created when metal burns. Yes, I've seen metal burn.
Why would I want to know about this? For some reason every little bit of information reduces anxiety and frustration I feel about having Parkinson's disease. Even though I have lost health, happiness, love, time, money, and even years of life due to Parkinson's disease, knowing that it may have happened because I was trying to make the world a little better place helps.
We are justified in the discouragement, anxiety, frustration, and other negative emotions that we may feel because of this disease. I would never try to talk someone out of those feelings. I really don't know why I have Parkinson's disease. However, I hope that passing this on to you may also reduce any anxiety or frustration that you have, just a little bit.