The Hidden Dangers of Dry Cleaning + 🚨50% off LUMEBOX
With holiday party season in full swing, we all want to look our best. But behind that crisp, flawless finish from the dry cleaners lies an invisible danger, and you need to know this.
The Fastest Growing Brain Disease
Parkinson's disease was relatively rare when it was first medically described in 1817. However, its incidence has skyrocketed in the last few decades, and it is now the fastest-growing brain disease in the world.1
This alarming rise is largely due to environmental factors, with toxins in our everyday surroundings playing a significant role.
According to a study published in Nature, 23% of Parkinson’s cases in women and 30% in men can be attributed to environmental factors, including exposure to pesticides, herbicides, and industrial chemicals.2
As our environment becomes increasingly contaminated, so too does the risk of this devastating disease, along with others like cancer.
Dry Cleaning: Not As “Clean” As It Seems
We rarely think twice about dropping off our clothes at the cleaners. It’s easy and the results are great, not to mention some (fancy) clothes can ONLY be dry-cleaned 😒 - luckily I don’t own many of those 😅.
But here’s the thing: two chemicals often used in dry cleaning—Trichloroethylene (TCE) and its sister chemical, Perchloroethylene (PERC)—are now known to increase Parkinson’s risk. They don’t just sit on our clothes; these chemicals vaporize and infiltrate the air we breathe.
And it’s no coincidence that the pathology of Parkinson’s often begins in the nose—where these airborne toxins are first encountered and can begin causing damage early on.
Living near or above a dry cleaner might expose you to unsafe levels of these chemicals without even realizing it. A study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found dangerously high levels of PERC in residential buildings above dry cleaners in New York City, with some concentrations far exceeding safety limits.3
As usual, please don’t panic, I’ll share some tips at the end of this article to help you reduce toxic load.
So what? Well, a 2024 retrospective study by Dr. Ray Dorsey revealed that workers in buildings 300 yards from a dry cleaning facility had higher rates of Parkinson’s and cancers linked to TCE exposure4 , highlighting the invisible reach of this harmful chemical.
And what about the people working in the dry cleaning industry? In their 2023 scoping review, the BMC identified 2 studies that suggested a link between PERC exposure and DNA damage in dry cleaners, even when the exposure was below the Occupational Exposure Limit.5 This would support the earlier observational studies whereby cancer rates in dry cleaners were found to be significantly higher than normal.67
Our Water and Soil Aren’t Safe Either
TCE and PERC contamination is widespread. Do you live in New York? If so, you’d want to know that one of the worst cases was found in New York's Gowanus Canal, where industrial dumping resulted in the shocking discovery in 2023 of TCE levels in the surrounding air that were 450 times higher than the state's safe threshold.8
Another infamous case is Camp Lejeune, where U.S. Marines stationed there between 1975 and 1985 were unknowingly exposed to water contaminated with TCE and PCE. As many as 1 million veterans and their families from this base face a 70% higher risk of developing Parkinson’s, as well as other related illnesses, highlighting the severe consequences of long-term chemical exposure.9
Where are the regulators?
Although the EPA has proposed a total ban on TCE in the U.S., we’re not there yet. A few states (e.g., California) have banned it in dry cleaning, but it’s still widely used in industrial processes and showing up in our water supply and soil.
Even if both TCE and PERC are banned from dry cleaning, other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are still commonly used in the process.
Personally, I avoid dry cleaning altogether, but realistically, the occasional trip to the dry cleaner for your favorite wardrobe piece isn’t a big deal - especially if take some of the steps to mitigate the exposure I share below.
Other Environmental Culprits
Pesticides, especially Paraquat, are another major player. Used to kill weeds resistant to glyphosate, Paraquat increases Parkinson’s risk by 2.5 times and is banned in the EU and UK.10 Yet here in the U.S., its use is on the rise, particularly in commercial agriculture. Rotenone, another pesticide, attacks cellular mitochondria and is also linked to Parkinson’s.
Chlorpyrifos, a chemical once found on everyday foods like apples and berries, was banned in 2021 by the EPA due to overwhelming evidence of its neurotoxic effects. However, in November 2023, the ban was overturned by the courts, allowing its use on certain crops once again. Despite its clear dangers, it’s back on our plates.
And don’t forget air pollution. A recent study from JAMA shows that even everyday exposure to PM2.5 particles—from sources like wildfires and vehicle exhaust—is associated with higher rates of Parkinson’s.11
What’s Being Done?
Frankly, not enough. While other countries are stepping up, the U.S. government’s actions have been painfully slow—and often too late. The recent reversal of the chlorpyrifos ban is a glaring reminder of this failure. Despite overwhelming evidence showing its harmful effects, it’s back in our food in the US.
Doesn’t this make your blood boil?
It’s a clear signal that we cannot rely on regulators to protect us. It’s up to us to raise awareness, demand change, and take action to safeguard our health and that of future generations.
Your small steps can make a big impact over time. Our government may not protect us as much as we need… but when you vote with your dollar, companies will listen. Your voice MATTERS!
4 Steps We Can Take Now
The rise of Parkinson’s and other neurological diseases is a warning that our environment has become a toxic minefield. But there’s hope.
In countries that have implemented proactive regulations to reduce environmental toxins—such as parts of Western Europe—the rates of Parkinson’s appear to be leveling off 🙌12
The truth is, Parkinson’s is not a disease of old age, nor is it 100% genetic.
Environmental factors play a huge role, and when we know better, we can do better and reduce the daily exposures within our control.
1. Support our Mitochondria
One 🔑 KEY way environmental toxins impact our health is by damaging our body’s energy centers 🪫 — our mitochondria —the powerhouses in nearly every cell of our bodies (except red blood cells). These mitochondria are responsible for generating the energy our cells need to function. Without energy 🪫, our cells cannot function - just like a car 🚗 cannot run without gas.
Organs that require more energy, like the 🧠 brain, are particularly vulnerable to these toxins, which is one reason symptoms like brain fog are so common nowadays.
We can support our mitochondria through:
Antioxidant-rich diet - full article on foods & mitochondria supporting supplements coming soon 👩🏻💻 - stay tuned.
Regular exercise
Quality sleep.
However, 🚨one exciting tool gaining scientific traction is red light therapy, which you can read more about in my article “What is red light therapy?” (link below).
Studies are also showing early promise for red light therapy in Parkinson’s disease, but it is too early to draw definitive conclusions, and there are currently no devices specifically designed for this condition just yet.13
P.S. Many of you might know that I am a co-founder of LUMEBOX because I couldn’t find a portable device that checked all the boxes for me: high irradiance, low EMF, third-party lab tested, portable, and easy to use.
For the next 4 days, while stocks last, it's 50% off - this only happens twice a year, and we’ve always sold out when we run 50% off sales in the past, so jump on it if you want one for the holidays, whether it’s a gift to yourself or a loved one.
