Paraquat

This week we're returning to one of the most contentious subjects in Parkinson's world: what causes the condition? Research has increasingly focused on the role of pesticides – particularly one called Paraquat – which are routinely used in agriculture yet are severely toxic to humans. Could investigations into the role of Paraquat prove a connection to PD? And, if so, does that mean that we could, eventually, arrest the spread of the illness? To discuss this subject, the Movers and Shakers are joined in the pub by a filmmaker, Sarah Teale, who has been working with international experts on a new film that tries to unravel this link.

Each week, Rory Cellan-Jones guides us between the laughs and moans in the pub. To read Rory's summary of this week's episode, click here.

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Guest Biographies

Sarah Teale

Sarah Teale is a producer and director from the UK, now based in New York. She is the creator of HBO's Emmy nominated investigative documentary Kill Chain: The Cyber War on America's Elections, and the HBO series The Weight of the Nation, which was nominated for a Prime Time Emmy. Her latest project, Where the Sweet Birds Sang, which investigates the connection between the use of the farming pesticide, Paraquat, and a developing Parkinson's pandemic, is set to be be released later this year.

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