Occupations and Parkinson's disease: a case-control study in South Korea

We performed a hospital based case-control study in the southeast region of Korea to clarify the role of occupational exposure, especially manganese (Mn), in the etiology of Parkinson's disease (PD) and to discover the association between any occupation and PD. 105 outpatients with PD and 129 neurological disease controls and 101 healthy controls were interviewed. We employed occupational and industrial categories as defined by Section (the most broad category) and Division (sub-category) of the Korea Standard Industry Code and the Korea Standard Classification of Occupations. There was not a significant association between exposure to hazardous materials, especially Mn and PD. There were not any occupations listed under the Section of Industry Classification as a significant risk factor or protective factor for PD. However, the 'clerk' occupation [Section] was positively associated with PD. There is a decreased risk for PD with a subject ever having worked in the 'agriculture, forestry and fishery' occupational group. Ever having worked in 'sales' also was negatively associated with PD. There were not any Divisions of Industry found as a significant risk factor or protective factor for PD. However, ever having worked in an 'agriculture' Division of Occupation was negatively associated with PD.