30% of U.S. drinking water supplies believed to be contaminated
A global team of scientists are hailing a major breakthrough in finding a significant link between exposure to an industrial solvent and Parkinson's disease.
However, the chemical is still used as a degreasing agent.
'Our findings, as well as prior case reports, suggest a lag time of up to 40 years between TCE exposure and onset of Parkinson's, providing a critical window of opportunity to potentially slow the disease before clinical symptoms appear.'
In the past TCE has been used in glue, carpet-cleaners, paints and dry-cleaning solutions.
It is still used as a degreasing agent for metal parts.
It is also estimated that 30 per cent of U.S. drinking water supplies are contaminated with the chemical.