Needlessly, there is a global Parkinson's disease pandemic on the rise. But it is unnatural and this incurable neurological disease can be prevented with environmental protections and prioritizing a toxin-free ecosystem if we clean up our air pollution and stop using certain degreasers and insecticide chemicals often used in dry cleaning, mechanics, golf courses, farming, and the military (especially TCE, PCE, and Paraquat). This is explained by the passionate medical doctor Dr. Ray Dorsey. In this lively dialogue with In Tune to Nature host Carrie Freeman, Dr. Dorsey shares key insights from his 2025 book “The Parkinson’s Plan: A New Path to Prevention and Treatment” which he wrote with fellow neurologist Dr. Michael Okun. You can find out more at https://pdplan.org/ (where you can join the PD Avengers advocacy movement to prevent Parkinson's, as we are all at risk). https://www.pdavengers.com/ This show is in honor of Carrie's dad's birthday, as he has been living with Parkinson's disease the last 15 years (cutting short his beloved architecture career -- we worked on his website together), likely caused by exposure to the TCE dry cleaning chemical polluting the Marine Corps training base Camp LeJeune in North Carolina, where he served back in 1964. Dr. Dorsey explains how this water pollution and its devastating cover-up occurred between the 1950's to 1980's, poisoning and sickening hundreds of thousands of Marines and local civilians! Camp LeJeune victims can and should apply for reparations. Dr. Dorsey also shares how, sadly, other service members, like those in the Air Force, are also at higher risk of contracting Parkinson's (like Carrie's uncle Ray, on her mom's side, a retired Air Force Colonel and veteran of the Vietnam war). Our service members deserve to be protected from chemical harms! But all of us (humans and other animals) are at risk in our daily lives, often unknowingly, and humans can take actions (at home and work, in our towns, and with who we vote for) to reduce these toxins in our environment; for guidance, in the latter half of this 75-minute episode, Dr. Dorsey shares hopeful tips from the book's "Parkinson's 25" list of actions, such as: buying organic foods (avoiding animal-based foods as much as possible) and washing produce well and with veggie washes; filtering your drinking water and using an air purifier; testing indoor air and water quality, especially if your water comes from a well, specifically testing for TCE, PCE, and insecticide chemicals; avoiding living, working, and schooling near dry cleaners that use Perc/PCE; avoiding being near or on golf courses that use a lot of chemical insecticides, and not using insecticides in your own home or garden; finding out Superfund (toxic cleanup) sites in our neighborhoods and making sure they are labeled; and voting for political leaders who will make environmental wellbeing, toxin-free ecosystems, and public health a priority over unregulated industry and its devastating (lethal) chemical use (meaning, industry regulation for safety standards is required, and Dr. Dorsey shows how have we have successfully done this in the past, like with DDT...thank you, Rachel Carson). If American listeners hang in for the last 10 minutes of the show, Carrie shares EPA websites and a news report on the PCE and TCE ban that Pres. Biden's EPA put in place, and the extent to which the trump admin is currently stalling its implementation (with a chemical industry lobbyist that he put in charge, weakening the EPA's public health priorities). Who you vote for matters and we should expect our government leaders to prioritize life. Do they? FYI: there are government/EPA emails for PCE and TCE: PCE.TSCA@EPA.gov and TCE.TSCA@epa.gov "In Tune to Nature" is an hour-long radio show airing Wednesdays at 6pm Eastern Time on 89.3FM-Atlanta radio and streaming worldwide on wrfg.org (Radio Free Georgia, a nonprofit indie station) hosted by me, Carrie Freeman, or friend Melody Paris. The show's website and my contact info can be found at https://wrfg.org/intunetonature/ While there, consider donating to Radio Free Georgia, a 50+ year old progressive, non-commercial, indie radio station, run largely by volunteers like me and Melody -- radically candid and compassionate. And remember to take care of yourself and others, as no Earthling deserves to live in a toxic world. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on In Tune to Nature do not necessarily reflect those of WRFG, its board, staff, or volunteers.
