US Study Finds Water Pollution Raises Risk of Rare Brain Disorder PSP
A US study links water pollution exposure to increased risk of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP).
Why it matters: The study’s findings highlight potential liability for polluters and signal increased regulatory scrutiny, urging legal professionals to monitor related compliance and litigation risks.
- Study published in 2016 analyzed data from over 500,000 individuals across the US.
- Living near facilities that pollute water correlates with higher odds of developing PSP, a rare brain disorder.
- Regular consumption of well water, possibly contaminated with heavy metals, significantly raises PSP risk.
- PSP causes symptoms like impaired eye movement and cognitive decline and remains without a known cure.
Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder affecting approximately 6 per 100,000 people, characterized by symptoms such as vertical gaze palsy, axial rigidity, and cognitive impairment. PSP is linked to abnormal accumulation of tau protein in the brain causing neuronal death, but its environmental triggers were unclear.
A 2016 case-control study involving over 500,000 US residents found a statistically significant association between residing near water-polluting facilities and increased risk of PSP. Dr. Irene Litvan, lead author, noted it as the first study establishing this environmental connection.
Consuming well water regularly, which may contain heavy metals and other toxins as detailed in a 2020 study, was also linked to elevated PSP risk. These contaminants can contribute to tau protein buildup and neuronal damage observed in PSP patients.
For legal professionals, these findings underscore emerging environmental health risks that could trigger stricter regulation of water pollutants by agencies such as the EPA. There is also potential for increased litigation against companies responsible for water contamination, particularly where causation can be linked.
Monitoring developments is vital: evolving science strengthens the basis for regulatory compliance demands and civil claims related to environmental exposures impacting neurological health.
By the numbers:
- Over 500,000 study participants — size of 2016 case-control study
- 6 per 100,000 — approximate prevalence of PSP in the general population
- 2016 — year when the key environmental risk study was published
Yes, but: While the study shows correlation, causation has not been definitively established; further research is needed to clarify specific toxins and mechanisms behind PSP development.
What's next: Legal professionals should watch for upcoming EPA regulatory updates on water pollutants and any new litigation arising from contaminated water sources linked to neurological disorders.