A 2025 JAMA study found higher Parkinson's rates in people living within a mile of golf courses. Dr. Robert Whitfield highlights two pesticides: chlorpyrifos, banned from food crops but still used on U.S. courses, and chlorothalonil, banned in the EU but the most common golf-course chemical in America. About 60% of golfer exposure comes through direct skin contact.
Let's look at the data on golf course chemical exposure. A 2025 JAMA study found an increased risk of Parkinson's disease for individuals living within a mile of the golf course. Chlorpyrifos is banned from food crops. It is still applied on American golf courses, and chlorothalonil is banned in the European Union as a known carcinogen. It remains the number one chemical used on golf courses here in the US. 60% of a golfer's chemical exposure occurs through direct skin contact as published previously. This data is published. It's not fear-based. It is the science. Tomorrow I'm starting a 3-part live series breaking down exactly what this means for your health and your surgical outcomes. Join me inside Dr. Rob's Circle to Watch, part 1.
