Review
BibTex RIS Cite

Toksikolojik Bir Perspektiften Sinsi Bir Tehlike: Pestisit Maruziyeti ve Nörodejeneratif Hastalıklar Arasındaki İlişki

Year 2025, Volume: 7 Issue: 2, 23 - 26, 31.08.2025
https://doi.org/10.51262/ejtox.1730571

Abstract

Artan sayıda araştırma, pestisit maruziyetini Alzheimer hastalığı, Parkinson hastalığı ve amiyotrofik lateral skleroz gibi nörodejeneratif hastalıkların etiyolojisinde önemli bir çevresel tetikleyici olarak göstermektedir. Pestisitler, nörotoksik potansiyelleri ile bilinir; kan-beyin bariyerini geçebilir, çevrede kalıcı olabilir ve oksidatif stres, mikroglial aktivasyon ve protein agregasyonu gibi mekanizmalar yoluyla hücresel hasara neden olabilirler. Bu etkiler yıllarca klinik belirti göstermeden sürebilir; bu durum “sessiz nörotoksisite” olarak adlandırılmaktadır. Bu derleme, pestisit kaynaklı nörodejenerasyonun toksikolojik temellerini ve bu hastalıkların artan küresel yükü ile ekonomik etkilerini epidemiolojik veriler ışığında incelemektedir. Ayrıca, yüksek riskli pestisit kullanımının kısıtlanması, güvenlik düzenlemelerinin iyileştirilmesi, biyopestisitlerin teşvik edilmesi ve erken tanı biyobelirteçlerinin geliştirilmesi gibi önleyici toksikolojik stratejilerin uzun vadeli nörolojik sonuçları azaltmak ve sürdürülebilir halk sağlığı politikalarını desteklemek için gerekliliği vurgulanmaktadır.

Project Number

no

References

  • Koren H, Bisesi M. Handbook of environmental health and Safety, CRC. Inc, USA; 1996.p.275-310.
  • Arab A, Mostafalou S. Neurotoxicity of pesticides in the context of CNS chronic diseases. Int J Environ Health Res. 2022 Dec; 32(12):2718-2755. doi: 10.1080/09603123.2021.1987396.
  • Stoccoro A, Coppedè F. Exposure to Metals, Pesticides, and Air Pollutants: Focus on Resulting DNA Methylation Changes in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Biomolecules. 2024 Oct 27;14(11):1366. doi: 10.3390/biom14111366.
  • Malik R, Wiedau M. Therapeutic Approaches Targeting Protein Aggregation in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Front. Mol. Neurosci. 2020;13:98. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2020.00098.
  • Ben-Shlomo Y., Darweesh S., Llibre-Guerra J., Marras C., San Luciano M., Tanner C. The epidemiology of Parkinson’s disease. Lancet. 2024;403:283–292. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01419-8.
  • Migliore L., Coppedè F. Gene-environment interactions in Alzheimer disease: The emerging role of epigenetics. Nat. Rev. Neurol. 2022;18:643–660. doi: 10.1038/s41582-022-00714-w.
  • Goutman S.A., Savelieff M.G., Jang D.G., Hur J., Feldman E.L. The amyotrophic lateral sclerosis exposome: Recent advances and future directions. Nat. Rev. Neurol. 2023;19:617–634. doi: 10.1038/s41582-023-00867-2.
  • Vellingiri B, Chandrasekhar M, Sri Sabari S, Gopalakrishnan AV, Narayanasamy A, Venkatesan D, et al. Neurotoxicity of pesticides - A link to neurodegeneration. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2022 Sep 15;243:113972. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113972.
  • Tang BL. Neuropathological Mechanisms Associated with Pesticides in Alzheimer's Disease. Toxics. 2020 Mar 25;8(2):21. doi: 10.3390/toxics8020021
  • Wang MD, Little J, Gomes J, Cashman NR, Krewski D. Identification of risk factors associated with onset and progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis using systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurotoxicology. 2017 Jul;61:101-130. doi: 10.1016/j.neuro.2016.06.015
  • Zhu Q, Zhou J, Zhang Y, Huang H, Han J, Cao B, et al. Risk factors associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis based on the observational study: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Neurosci. 2023 May 22;17:1196722. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1196722
  • Srivastava A, Srivastava AK, Pandeya A, Pant AB. Pesticide mediated silent neurotoxicity and its unmasking: An update on recent progress. Toxicology. 2023 Dec;500:153665. doi: 10.1016/j.tox.2023.153665
  • Iqubal A., Ahmed M., Ahmad S., Sahoo C.R., Iqubal M.K., Haque S.E. Environmental neurotoxic pollutants: Review. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. Int. 2020;27:41175–41198. doi: 10.1007/s11356-020-10539-z.
  • Kang Y.J., Tan H.Y., Lee C.Y., Cho H. An Air Particulate Pollutant Induces Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration in Human Brain Models. Adv. Sci. 2021;8:e2101251. doi: 10.1002/advs.202101251.
  • Martínez-Hernández M.I., Acosta-Saavedra L.C., Hernández-Kelly L.C., Loaeza-Loaeza J., Ortega A. Microglial Activation in Metal Neurotoxicity: Impact in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Biomed. Res. Int. 2023;2023:7389508. doi: 10.1155/2023/7389508.
  • Di Domenico M., Benevenuto S.G.M., Tomasini P.P., Yariwake V.Y., de Oliveira Alves N., Rahmeier F.L., da Cruz Fernandes M., Moura D.J., Nascimento Saldiva P.H., Veras M.M. Concentrated ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure induce brain damage in pre and postnatal exposed mice. Neurotoxicology. 2020;79:127–141. doi: 10.1016/j.neuro.2020.05.004.
  • Shih C.H., Chen J.K., Kuo L.W., Cho K.H., Hsiao T.C., Lin Z.W., Lin Y.S., Kang J.H., Lo Y.C., Chuang K.J., et al. Chronic pulmonary exposure to traffic-related fine particulate matter causes brain impairment in adult rats. Part. Fibre Toxicol. 2018;15:44. doi: 10.1186/s12989-018-0281-1.
  • Calderón-Garcidueñas L., Vojdani A., Blaurock-Busch E., Busch Y., Friedle A., Franco-Lira M., Sarathi-Mukherjee P., Martínez-Aguirre X., Park S.B., Torres-Jardón R., et al. Air pollution and children: Neural and tight junction antibodies and combustion metals; the role of barrier breakdown and brain immunity in neurodegeneration. J. Alzheimers Dis. 2015;43:1039–1058. doi: 10.3233/JAD-141365.
  • Calderón-Garcidueñas L., Herrera-Soto A., Jury N., Maher B.A., González-Maciel A., Reynoso-Robles R., Ruiz-Rudolph P., van Zundert B., Varela-Nallar L. Reduced repressive epigenetic marks, increased DNA damage and Alzheimer’s disease hallmarks in the brain of humans and mice exposed to particulate urban air pollution. Environ. Res. 2020;183:109226. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109226.
  • Cheng H., Yang B., Ke T., Li S., Yang X., Aschner M., Chen P. Mechanisms of Metal-Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Neurological Disorders. Toxics. 2021;9:142. doi: 10.3390/toxics9060142.
  • Bustamante-Barrientos F.A., Luque-Campos N., Araya M.J., Lara-Barba E., de Solminihac J., Pradenas C., Molina L., Herrera-Luna Y., Utreras-Mendoza Y., Elizondo-Vega R., et al. Mitochondrial dysfunction in neurodegenerative disorders: Potential therapeutic application of mitochondrial transfer to central nervous system-residing cells. J. Transl. Med. 2023;21:613. doi: 10.1186/s12967-023-04493-w.
  • Rock K.D., Patisaul H.B. Environmental Mechanisms of Neurodevelopmental Toxicity. Curr. Environ. Health Rep. 2018;5:145–157. doi: 10.1007/s40572-018-0185-0. Modgil S., Lahiri D.K., Sharma V.L., Anand A. Role of early life exposure and environment on neurodegeneration: Implications on brain disorders. Transl. Neurodegener. 2014;3:9. doi: 10.1186/2047-9158-3-9.
  • Andersen HR, David A, Freire C, Fernández MF, D'Cruz SC, Reina-Pérez I, et al. Pyrethroids and developmental neurotoxicity - A critical review of epidemiological studies and supporting mechanistic evidence. Environ Res. 2022 Nov;214(Pt 2):113935. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113935
  • Global action plan on the public health response to dementia 2017-2025. World Health Organization http://www.who.int/mental_health/neurology/dementia/action_plan_2017_2025/en
  • World population ageing 2019. United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/ageing/WorldPopulationAgeing2019-Report.pd
  • GBD 2016 Neurology Collaborators. Global, regional, and national burden of neurological disorders, 1990-2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. Lancet Neurol. 2019 May;18(5):459-480. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(18)30499-X
  • Dorsey ER, Sherer T, Okun MS, Bloem BR. The Emerging Evidence of the Parkinson Pandemic. J Parkinsons Dis. 2018;8(s1):S3-S8. doi: 10.3233/JPD-181474
  • Yang W, Hamilton JL, Kopil C, Beck JC, Tanner CM, Albin RL, et al. Current and projected future economic burden of Parkinson's disease in the U.S. NPJ Parkinsons Dis. 2020 Jul 9;6:15. doi: 10.1038/s41531-020-0117-1
  • Beghi E, Logroscino G, Chiò A, Hardiman O, Mitchell D, Swingler R, et al; EURALS Consortium. The epidemiology of ALS and the role of population-based registries. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2006 Nov-Dec;1762(11-12):1150-7. doi: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2006.09.008
  • Achtert K, Kerkemeyer L. The economic burden of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a systematic review. Eur J Health Econ. 2021 Nov;22(8):1151-1166. doi: 10.1007/s10198-021-01328-7
  • Zhao R, Wang HH, Gao J, Zhang YJ, Li X, Zhou JJ, Liang P, Gao XW, Gu SH. Plant volatile compound methyl benzoate is highly effective against Spodoptera frugiperda and safe to non-target organisms as an eco-friendly botanical-insecticide. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2022 Oct 15;245:114101. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.114101.

Toxicological Perspective on a Stealth Threat: The Link Between Pesticide Exposure and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Year 2025, Volume: 7 Issue: 2, 23 - 26, 31.08.2025
https://doi.org/10.51262/ejtox.1730571

Abstract

Mounting research implicates pesticide exposure as a major environmental trigger in the etiology of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Pesticides, known for their neurotoxic potential, can cross the blood–brain barrier, persist in the environment, and trigger cellular damage through mechanisms including oxidative stress, microglial activation, and protein aggregation. Notably, these effects may remain clinically silent for years, a phenomenon termed “silent neurotoxicity.” This review explores the toxicological basis of pesticide-induced neurodegeneration, supported by epidemiological data showing a growing global burden and economic impact of these diseases. It further underscores the need for preventive toxicological strategies—such as restricting high-risk pesticide use, enhancing safety regulations, promoting biopesticides, and developing early diagnostic biomarkers—to mitigate long-term neurological outcomes and support sustainable public health policy.

Ethical Statement

Ethics committee approval is not required.

Supporting Institution

no

Project Number

no

Thanks

no

References

  • Koren H, Bisesi M. Handbook of environmental health and Safety, CRC. Inc, USA; 1996.p.275-310.
  • Arab A, Mostafalou S. Neurotoxicity of pesticides in the context of CNS chronic diseases. Int J Environ Health Res. 2022 Dec; 32(12):2718-2755. doi: 10.1080/09603123.2021.1987396.
  • Stoccoro A, Coppedè F. Exposure to Metals, Pesticides, and Air Pollutants: Focus on Resulting DNA Methylation Changes in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Biomolecules. 2024 Oct 27;14(11):1366. doi: 10.3390/biom14111366.
  • Malik R, Wiedau M. Therapeutic Approaches Targeting Protein Aggregation in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Front. Mol. Neurosci. 2020;13:98. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2020.00098.
  • Ben-Shlomo Y., Darweesh S., Llibre-Guerra J., Marras C., San Luciano M., Tanner C. The epidemiology of Parkinson’s disease. Lancet. 2024;403:283–292. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01419-8.
  • Migliore L., Coppedè F. Gene-environment interactions in Alzheimer disease: The emerging role of epigenetics. Nat. Rev. Neurol. 2022;18:643–660. doi: 10.1038/s41582-022-00714-w.
  • Goutman S.A., Savelieff M.G., Jang D.G., Hur J., Feldman E.L. The amyotrophic lateral sclerosis exposome: Recent advances and future directions. Nat. Rev. Neurol. 2023;19:617–634. doi: 10.1038/s41582-023-00867-2.
  • Vellingiri B, Chandrasekhar M, Sri Sabari S, Gopalakrishnan AV, Narayanasamy A, Venkatesan D, et al. Neurotoxicity of pesticides - A link to neurodegeneration. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2022 Sep 15;243:113972. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113972.
  • Tang BL. Neuropathological Mechanisms Associated with Pesticides in Alzheimer's Disease. Toxics. 2020 Mar 25;8(2):21. doi: 10.3390/toxics8020021
  • Wang MD, Little J, Gomes J, Cashman NR, Krewski D. Identification of risk factors associated with onset and progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis using systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurotoxicology. 2017 Jul;61:101-130. doi: 10.1016/j.neuro.2016.06.015
  • Zhu Q, Zhou J, Zhang Y, Huang H, Han J, Cao B, et al. Risk factors associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis based on the observational study: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Neurosci. 2023 May 22;17:1196722. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1196722
  • Srivastava A, Srivastava AK, Pandeya A, Pant AB. Pesticide mediated silent neurotoxicity and its unmasking: An update on recent progress. Toxicology. 2023 Dec;500:153665. doi: 10.1016/j.tox.2023.153665
  • Iqubal A., Ahmed M., Ahmad S., Sahoo C.R., Iqubal M.K., Haque S.E. Environmental neurotoxic pollutants: Review. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. Int. 2020;27:41175–41198. doi: 10.1007/s11356-020-10539-z.
  • Kang Y.J., Tan H.Y., Lee C.Y., Cho H. An Air Particulate Pollutant Induces Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration in Human Brain Models. Adv. Sci. 2021;8:e2101251. doi: 10.1002/advs.202101251.
  • Martínez-Hernández M.I., Acosta-Saavedra L.C., Hernández-Kelly L.C., Loaeza-Loaeza J., Ortega A. Microglial Activation in Metal Neurotoxicity: Impact in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Biomed. Res. Int. 2023;2023:7389508. doi: 10.1155/2023/7389508.
  • Di Domenico M., Benevenuto S.G.M., Tomasini P.P., Yariwake V.Y., de Oliveira Alves N., Rahmeier F.L., da Cruz Fernandes M., Moura D.J., Nascimento Saldiva P.H., Veras M.M. Concentrated ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure induce brain damage in pre and postnatal exposed mice. Neurotoxicology. 2020;79:127–141. doi: 10.1016/j.neuro.2020.05.004.
  • Shih C.H., Chen J.K., Kuo L.W., Cho K.H., Hsiao T.C., Lin Z.W., Lin Y.S., Kang J.H., Lo Y.C., Chuang K.J., et al. Chronic pulmonary exposure to traffic-related fine particulate matter causes brain impairment in adult rats. Part. Fibre Toxicol. 2018;15:44. doi: 10.1186/s12989-018-0281-1.
  • Calderón-Garcidueñas L., Vojdani A., Blaurock-Busch E., Busch Y., Friedle A., Franco-Lira M., Sarathi-Mukherjee P., Martínez-Aguirre X., Park S.B., Torres-Jardón R., et al. Air pollution and children: Neural and tight junction antibodies and combustion metals; the role of barrier breakdown and brain immunity in neurodegeneration. J. Alzheimers Dis. 2015;43:1039–1058. doi: 10.3233/JAD-141365.
  • Calderón-Garcidueñas L., Herrera-Soto A., Jury N., Maher B.A., González-Maciel A., Reynoso-Robles R., Ruiz-Rudolph P., van Zundert B., Varela-Nallar L. Reduced repressive epigenetic marks, increased DNA damage and Alzheimer’s disease hallmarks in the brain of humans and mice exposed to particulate urban air pollution. Environ. Res. 2020;183:109226. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109226.
  • Cheng H., Yang B., Ke T., Li S., Yang X., Aschner M., Chen P. Mechanisms of Metal-Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Neurological Disorders. Toxics. 2021;9:142. doi: 10.3390/toxics9060142.
  • Bustamante-Barrientos F.A., Luque-Campos N., Araya M.J., Lara-Barba E., de Solminihac J., Pradenas C., Molina L., Herrera-Luna Y., Utreras-Mendoza Y., Elizondo-Vega R., et al. Mitochondrial dysfunction in neurodegenerative disorders: Potential therapeutic application of mitochondrial transfer to central nervous system-residing cells. J. Transl. Med. 2023;21:613. doi: 10.1186/s12967-023-04493-w.
  • Rock K.D., Patisaul H.B. Environmental Mechanisms of Neurodevelopmental Toxicity. Curr. Environ. Health Rep. 2018;5:145–157. doi: 10.1007/s40572-018-0185-0. Modgil S., Lahiri D.K., Sharma V.L., Anand A. Role of early life exposure and environment on neurodegeneration: Implications on brain disorders. Transl. Neurodegener. 2014;3:9. doi: 10.1186/2047-9158-3-9.
  • Andersen HR, David A, Freire C, Fernández MF, D'Cruz SC, Reina-Pérez I, et al. Pyrethroids and developmental neurotoxicity - A critical review of epidemiological studies and supporting mechanistic evidence. Environ Res. 2022 Nov;214(Pt 2):113935. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113935
  • Global action plan on the public health response to dementia 2017-2025. World Health Organization http://www.who.int/mental_health/neurology/dementia/action_plan_2017_2025/en
  • World population ageing 2019. United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/ageing/WorldPopulationAgeing2019-Report.pd
  • GBD 2016 Neurology Collaborators. Global, regional, and national burden of neurological disorders, 1990-2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. Lancet Neurol. 2019 May;18(5):459-480. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(18)30499-X
  • Dorsey ER, Sherer T, Okun MS, Bloem BR. The Emerging Evidence of the Parkinson Pandemic. J Parkinsons Dis. 2018;8(s1):S3-S8. doi: 10.3233/JPD-181474
  • Yang W, Hamilton JL, Kopil C, Beck JC, Tanner CM, Albin RL, et al. Current and projected future economic burden of Parkinson's disease in the U.S. NPJ Parkinsons Dis. 2020 Jul 9;6:15. doi: 10.1038/s41531-020-0117-1
  • Beghi E, Logroscino G, Chiò A, Hardiman O, Mitchell D, Swingler R, et al; EURALS Consortium. The epidemiology of ALS and the role of population-based registries. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2006 Nov-Dec;1762(11-12):1150-7. doi: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2006.09.008
  • Achtert K, Kerkemeyer L. The economic burden of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a systematic review. Eur J Health Econ. 2021 Nov;22(8):1151-1166. doi: 10.1007/s10198-021-01328-7
  • Zhao R, Wang HH, Gao J, Zhang YJ, Li X, Zhou JJ, Liang P, Gao XW, Gu SH. Plant volatile compound methyl benzoate is highly effective against Spodoptera frugiperda and safe to non-target organisms as an eco-friendly botanical-insecticide. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2022 Oct 15;245:114101. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.114101.
There are 31 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Clinical Sciences (Other), Environmental Health
Journal Section Review Article
Authors

Abdullah Seyithanoğlu 0000-0002-2459-5470

Project Number no
Publication Date August 31, 2025
Submission Date June 30, 2025
Acceptance Date July 28, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 7 Issue: 2

Cite

APA Seyithanoğlu, A. (2025). Toxicological Perspective on a Stealth Threat: The Link Between Pesticide Exposure and Neurodegenerative Diseases. Eurasian Journal of Toxicology, 7(2), 23-26. https://doi.org/10.51262/ejtox.1730571
AMA Seyithanoğlu A. Toxicological Perspective on a Stealth Threat: The Link Between Pesticide Exposure and Neurodegenerative Diseases. Eurasian J Tox. August 2025;7(2):23-26. doi:10.51262/ejtox.1730571
Chicago Seyithanoğlu, Abdullah. “Toxicological Perspective on a Stealth Threat: The Link Between Pesticide Exposure and Neurodegenerative Diseases”. Eurasian Journal of Toxicology 7, no. 2 (August 2025): 23-26. https://doi.org/10.51262/ejtox.1730571.
EndNote Seyithanoğlu A (August 1, 2025) Toxicological Perspective on a Stealth Threat: The Link Between Pesticide Exposure and Neurodegenerative Diseases. Eurasian Journal of Toxicology 7 2 23–26.
IEEE A. Seyithanoğlu, “Toxicological Perspective on a Stealth Threat: The Link Between Pesticide Exposure and Neurodegenerative Diseases”, Eurasian J Tox, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 23–26, 2025, doi: 10.51262/ejtox.1730571.
ISNAD Seyithanoğlu, Abdullah. “Toxicological Perspective on a Stealth Threat: The Link Between Pesticide Exposure and Neurodegenerative Diseases”. Eurasian Journal of Toxicology 7/2 (August2025), 23-26. https://doi.org/10.51262/ejtox.1730571.
JAMA Seyithanoğlu A. Toxicological Perspective on a Stealth Threat: The Link Between Pesticide Exposure and Neurodegenerative Diseases. Eurasian J Tox. 2025;7:23–26.
MLA Seyithanoğlu, Abdullah. “Toxicological Perspective on a Stealth Threat: The Link Between Pesticide Exposure and Neurodegenerative Diseases”. Eurasian Journal of Toxicology, vol. 7, no. 2, 2025, pp. 23-26, doi:10.51262/ejtox.1730571.
Vancouver Seyithanoğlu A. Toxicological Perspective on a Stealth Threat: The Link Between Pesticide Exposure and Neurodegenerative Diseases. Eurasian J Tox. 2025;7(2):23-6.