A Canadian neurologist is grappling with a cluster of patients in New Brunswick suffering from an unidentified neurological disorder, sparking fears that environmental toxics may be to blame.
Greg Donahue reports for The New York Times.
In short:
- Over 430 patients in New Brunswick exhibit unexplained neurological symptoms. Many are unusually young, raising alarms about a potential environmental cause.
- Recent tests revealed high levels of glyphosate, a common herbicide, in the blood of many patients, further fueling concerns about environmental contamination.
- Despite initial government support, investigations into the cause have been halted, leading to suspicions of political interference and cover-ups.
Key quote:
“This is a collective effort that is needed. Not only for the people here in New Brunswick, but because whatever is causing this might be happening elsewhere.”
— Dr. Alier Marrero, neurologist
Why this matters:
There’s a growing concern that environmental factors, like the herbicide glyphosate, might be at play, raising the specter of toxic exposures lurking in our own backyards and the emergence of new and mysterious diseases. Science and politics are in a high-stakes tug-of-war here.
