Parkinson's Disease Support Group

One would think that, by now, word about pesticides and herbicides has gotten around and the use of toxins on a grand scale has been reduced, ceased or, better yet, that alternative methods have been found. Not so, unfortunately.

Right here in Florida is the beautiful, almost Utopian town of "Celebration" just south of Orlando. Pesticides are sprayed throughout the community NIGHTLY between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. nine months out of the year -- to combat the ever-present mosquito problems -- as people of all ages walk, bike and swim, including children and pets. Everything gets drenched with those pesticides being sprayed from the back of a pick-up truck and, if you're one of the unlucky ones, one can even get sprayed on twice during a leisurely after-dinner stroll. Homes, trees, shrubs, vehicles, pools and people all get sprayed; the heavy mist does not discriminate against anyone or anything.

Celebration is still relatively "young." Time will tell what neurological illnesses its residents will suffer, including, but certainly not limited to, Parkinson's Disease. Hard to believe that this is still done in 2009 in light of all that's now known about pesticides and herbicides!

I lived in this town for several months, intending to purchase a home there once I had sold the house that I then owned. After not only realizing that one could not go outdoors after 8:00 p.m. without risking getting sprayed on -- as had happened to me on three occasions when I first moved there --I left Celebration as soon as I possible could do so. I was sad to leave such a lovely town, but my life and health were much too important to me to stay there one day longer than necessary. I passed along the word of my concerns before I left and, finally, a year after my departure, I was recently told by a current resident that the community is talking about alternative measures that can be taken to avoid using pesticides. It's a good thing and, hopefully, not to late for the long-term residents of Celebration.

As for me, when I now consider a new property, be it a purchase or a rental, I not only ask about the pest control history pertaining to my intended new home itself (as I have done for many years) but also about pesticide spraying / mosquito control of that particular area.

We all bare the responsibility for ourselves and our families and, whenever possible, for our community as well, to take action, be it with respect to the food we ingest, the activities we engage in, or even the air we breathe. Sometimes, all it takes is raising awareness about our own observations and/or experiences. Personally, I believe we need to share such information with others, giving them the opportunity to reach informed decisions about the physical environments in which they work and/or live like many with toxin-caused PD today did not have years ago.