Objective: To characterize health outcomes of attorneys potentially exposed to dry cleaning chemicals.

Background: Trichloroethylene (TCE), a chlorinated solvent used in dry cleaning and degreasing, is a carcinogen and has been associated with a 500% increased risk of Parkinson’s disease (PD) [1]. TCE can increase the risk of kidney cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, prostate cancer, and multiple myeloma. Individuals who do not directly work with TCE can be exposed to it through a process called vapor intrusion, where the chemical can evaporate from soil and enter buildings.

Method: We evaluated attorneys who worked in an office building near a site contaminated by TCE and other chemicals between 1968 and 2001. In phase I, we surveyed the potentially exposed attorneys (or proxies) about health and work history. In phase II, the same cohort of attorneys and a new group of presumably unexposed attorneys completed clinical evaluations. For deceased or incapacitated attorneys, we conducted phone interviews and/or reviewed medical records.

Results: We evaluated 77 of the 82 potentially exposed attorneys, either in phase I (n=65), phase II (n=63), or both (n=50). At the time of study, 61 attorneys were living (mean age 67.5, SD=11.2, 8 female) and 16 were deceased (mean age at death 74.8, SD=0.7, 1 female). 75 presumably unexposed attorneys completed an evaluation (mean age 64.9, SD=10.3, 26 female).

In the potentially-exposed cohort there were four cases of PD and one case of multiple systems atrophy. In the unexposed cohort there was one case of PD. 16 potentially-exposed attorneys (20.8%) reported TCE-related cancers: kidney (1), non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (1), prostate (12), and multiple myeloma (2). In the unexposed group there were four cases of prostate cancer and one case of multiple myeloma (6.7%).

Potentially-exposed attorneys who worked at the office building for a longer duration were more likely to have a PD, MSA, or a TCE-related condition (χ²(6)=13.5, p=0.03) [figure1]. Similarly, potentially-exposed attorneys who spent a larger proportion of their employment working near the contaminated site had more TCE-related conditions [figure2].

Conclusion: Preliminary results indicate a higher amount of PD and TCE-related cancers in attorneys potentially-exposed to TCE than those attorneys without potential-exposure. Further analyses are needed to determine the relationship between duration working near TCE contamination, age, and onset of adverse health outcomes.

References: [1] Ann Neurol. 2012;71(6):776-784

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/dry-cleaning-chemicals-and-parkinsons-disease/