The Hidden Hazard In Picturesque Landscapes

Those beautiful, meticulously maintained golf courses with their pristine greens and perfectly manicured fairways might be hiding a darker reality beneath their immaculate surfaces. A groundbreaking new study published in JAMA Network Open has uncovered a disturbing connection between living near golf courses and an increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease (PD).

As a functional medicine doctor who focuses on finding the root causes of chronic illness, I'm always attuned to how environmental exposures can trigger disease processes in susceptible individuals. This important research sheds light on a potential environmental trigger that many of my patients may not even realize they're being exposed to.

The Science Behind the Study

Researchers conducted a population-based case-control study using data from the Rochester Epidemiology Project medical records system, examining 419 incident PD cases and 5,113 matched controls from 1991 to 2015 in southern Minnesota and Western Wisconsin.

The findings were striking:

• Living within 1 mile of a golf course was associated with 126% increased odds of developing Parkinson's disease compared to individuals living more than 6 miles away.
• People living within 1-2 miles still had nearly 3 times (198%) higher odds of developing PD.
• The risk gradually decreased with distance but remained elevated even at 3-6 miles.
• Individuals getting their drinking water from water service areas containing a golf course had nearly double the odds of PD compared to those in areas without golf courses.
• The greatest risk was observed in areas with vulnerable groundwater regions containing golf courses.

The Pesticide Connection

Why would living near golf courses increase Parkinson's risk? The study authors point to a likely culprit: pesticides.

For decades, scientists have established links between certain pesticides and Parkinson's disease. Golf courses often use high concentrations of these chemicals to maintain their aesthetic standards. In fact, pesticide application on U.S. golf courses can be up to 15 times higher compared to European countries.

Some of the pesticides commonly used on golf courses that have been linked to Parkinson's include:

• Organophosphates
• Chlorpyrifos
• Methylchlorophenoxypropionic acid (MCPP)
• 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D)
• Maneb
• Organochlorines

These chemicals can leach into groundwater, contaminating drinking water supplies. Studies have found pesticides in groundwater beneath golf courses at levels up to 200 times higher than health guidance levels.

Exposure Pathways: Water and Air

This new research suggests there are two primary ways people near golf courses might be exposed to these neurotoxic chemicals:

1. Contaminated drinking water: Pesticides can seep into groundwater that supplies municipal water systems. The study found that living in water service areas with a golf course in vulnerable groundwater regions significantly increased PD risk.
2. Airborne exposure: The researchers noted stronger associations between golf course proximity and PD in urban areas, suggesting that airborne pesticide drift might be another important exposure route.

Protecting Yourself and Your Family

If you live near a golf course, here are some steps you can take to reduce your potential exposure:

1. Consider water filtration: Install a high-quality water filtration system that can remove pesticides and other contaminants. Look for systems certified to remove the specific chemicals mentioned above.
2. Test your water: If you have a private well, consider having your water tested for pesticides, especially if you live in an area with vulnerable groundwater.
3. Support organic golf course management: Some golf courses are adopting more environmentally friendly practices. Support these initiatives in your community.
4. Advocate for stricter regulations: Public health policies to reduce pesticide use and prevent groundwater contamination can help protect communities near golf courses.
5. Boost your body's detoxification pathways: Supporting your liver's detoxification systems through targeted supplements and lifestyle practices can help your body process and eliminate environmental toxins more effectively.

There are an estimated 84,000 chemicals in our everyday items. Click here to download my FREE guide, reduce your daily exposure and improve your health today.

Recommended Detoxification Support Products

To support your body's natural detoxification processes, especially if you live near a golf course or suspect pesticide exposure, consider these physician-formulated products:

• Dr. Jill Health Detox Bundle: This comprehensive bundle includes Glutathione Essentials, Liver Essentials, and G.I. Detox+, working synergistically to mobilize toxins and support their elimination through the proper pathways.

• Glutathione Essentials: As your body's master antioxidant, glutathione plays a critical role in detoxifying pesticides and other environmental toxins. Each capsule provides 250mg of reduced glutathione to support liver function and neutralize free radicals.
• Liposomal Glutathione: This highly bioavailable form allows for enhanced absorption and utilization, making it especially beneficial for those with compromised detoxification systems.
• NAC 500: N-Acetyl Cysteine supports glutathione production and helps break down mucus, supporting both detoxification and respiratory health – important for addressing potential pesticide exposure.

For more significant toxic burdens or those dealing with neurological symptoms potentially related to toxin exposure, consider the Dr. Jill's Miracle Mold Detox Box. While designed primarily for mold toxicity, this comprehensive protocol contains potent detoxifiers that can address various environmental toxins, including pesticides.

If you know you’ve been exposed to mold and it’s making you sick or if you suspect your illness has been caused by mold exposure, click here to download Dr Jill Carnahan's Complete Mold Exposure Guide​ now.

Daily Practices to Support Detoxification

Beyond specific supplements, incorporating these daily practices can help enhance your body's natural detoxification capabilities:

1. Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of filtered water helps flush toxins through your kidneys and supports overall detoxification.
2. Eat organic when possible: Reduce your overall pesticide exposure by choosing organic produce, especially for foods on the Environmental Working Group's “Dirty Dozen” list.
3. Include detoxifying foods: Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts), garlic, cilantro, chlorella, and spirulina all help support natural detoxification processes.
4. Sweat regularly: Infrared saunas and regular exercise promote sweating, which helps eliminate toxins through the skin. As I discuss in my article on infrared energy, infrared saunas can be particularly effective for detoxification.
5. Support lymphatic circulation: Dry brushing, rebounding (mini-trampoline exercises), and lymphatic massage can help your body's waste removal systems function more efficiently.
6. Optimize gut health: Since many toxins are eliminated through the gastrointestinal tract, maintaining healthy gut function is essential. Consider probiotics like Spore Probiotic Plus IgG to support gut barrier integrity and healthy microbiome balance.

The Root Cause Perspective

From a functional medicine standpoint, this study reinforces what we've long understood: environmental toxins are significant triggers for neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's. The development of PD likely involves a complex interplay between genetic predisposition and environmental exposures.

For susceptible individuals, continuous low-level exposure to neurotoxic chemicals can gradually damage dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra region of the brain. Pesticides like paraquat and rotenone have been shown to induce Parkinson's-like neurodegeneration through oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and dopaminergic neuron apoptosis.

As I've discussed in my previous article, Is Your Body Overloaded with Toxins?,

“Long-term exposure to neurotoxic chemicals can result in cognitive decline, memory loss, and neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease.”

These toxic exposures don't just cause temporary discomfort – they can significantly impair the body's functions, making proper detoxification even more critical.

For those concerned about environmental toxic exposures, I recommend reading my article on Immunotoxicity and checking out my guide to Low-Tox Swaps to minimize your overall toxic burden. My article on Natural Detoxification also provides practical strategies to enhance your body's innate detoxification capabilities.

Final Thoughts

As we continue to uncover the environmental factors contributing to conditions like Parkinson's disease, it's crucial that we become more conscious of the potential dangers in our surroundings – even those that appear harmless or beneficial.

The pristine beauty of golf courses comes at a cost when maintained with toxic chemicals. This research should prompt communities, policymakers, and the golf industry to reconsider current practices and adopt safer alternatives that protect both environmental and human health.

May we all become better stewards of our environment and our health, finding the balance between human recreation and the protection of our precious natural resources and wellbeing.

Do you live near a golf course? Have you considered the potential health impacts? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.

References:

1. Krzyzanowski B, Mullan S, Chirag P, et al. Proximity to Golf Courses and Risk of Parkinson Disease. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(5):e259198. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.9198
2. Sule RO, Condon L, Gomes AV. A common feature of pesticides: oxidative stress—the role of oxidative stress in pesticide-induced toxicity. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2022;5563759.
3. Betarbet R, Sherer TB, MacKenzie G, Garcia-Osuna M, Panov AV, Greenamyre JT. Chronic systemic pesticide exposure reproduces features of Parkinson's disease. Nature Neuroscience. 2000;3(12):1301-1306.
4. Abrams R. Toxic fairways: Risking groundwater contamination from pesticides on Long Island golf courses. New York State Department of Law, Environmental Protection Bureau; 1991.