Originally Posted by Ronhutton

I was subjected to many toxic chemicals when I worked in a research centre as a reseach chemist from 1958 to1966. I was promoted to a managerial office job in 1966 and only visited the lab now and again.
However, I believe the damage was done. I had specialised in organotin compounds, and organophosphorous compounds. I also made extremely toxic organomercury compounds. In those days, safety was not given the attention it deserves. Many preparations were carried out on an open bench, since fume cupboards were very inefficient, and still exposed you to fumes.
Solvents like benzene were used regularly to clean glass apparatus.
It took 30 years before I was diagnosed with PD, but I believe I showed symptoms many years earlier. I was never much good at ball games, my coordination was so poor. I was a terrible dancer, etc. which I believe
was the start of PD. Did others experience this?
Presumably lab workers have similar statistics to firefighters and welders, but I have not come across figures.
THe firefighters website is very good.
Ron