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Parkinson’s disease caused by pesticides: farmer from Niedertaufkirchen affected

Posted on by Lucas
Parkinson’s disease caused by pesticides: farmer from Niedertaufkirchen affected

  1. ovb-online-de
  2. Mühldorf
  3. Neumarkt-St. region Veit

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From: Joseph Enzinger

Parkinson’s disease caused by pesticides: farmer from Niedertaufkirchen affected
Sick from pesticides: Parkinson’s is now recognized as an occupational disease for farmers in Germany. Hubert Roßkothen from Niedertaufkirchen is affected by this. © Josef Enzinger/picture alliance

Mask, gloves, protective suit: For decades, farmers have spread pesticides on their fields without any precautionary measures. With dramatic consequences, as the fate of the organic farmer Hubert Roßkothen from Niedertaufkirchen shows.

Niedertaufkirchen – It was decades ago, but Hubert Roßkothen remembers it well. When he drove into his corn fields and sprayed the pesticide Stomp. At that time, Roßkothen wore no mask, no gloves, no protective suit. His tug had no cabin. “When I sprayed the corn with the herbicide Stomp, I was completely yellow afterwards.” This was not only annoying, but life-threatening, as it turned out decades later.

The farm has been organic since 2005

The 62-year-old is a pioneer in the switch to organic. As early as 2005, he stopped farming and stopped using pesticides. But apparently his nervous system had already suffered damage. In 2013 he noticed the first symptoms of an illness that was then diagnosed as depression. It wasn’t until 2019 that we became certain: it was Parkinson’s. “He was endlessly sad and cried like a castle dog,” he says today. On the other hand, he was relieved because he could finally find out the reason for his suffering.

“An inexplicable drop in performance, gradual immobility, repeated tensions, muscle pain” are the least of the restrictions that the Niedertaufkirchen resident has to endure. He takes medication every four hours to keep the pain bearable.

Committed to the ÖDP

120 dairy cows, 80 hectares of arable land: Roßkothen seemed to have done everything right when he decided to go the organic route. And with complete conviction. He gave lectures, trained young farmers, and was involved in the Ecological Democratic Party (ÖDP), for which he sat on the Mühldorf district council.

Hubert Roßkothen used to be passionate about theater.
Hubert Roßkothen (center) used to be passionate about theater. © Josef Enzinger

But working in agriculture is largely just a memory. He says he works a maximum of four hours a day and only does farming. Now, in the last third of the year, in the winter months, he has to struggle with the darkness. And with depression. “Not a good day today,” he says during a conversation on his farm.

France has recognized Parkinson’s as an occupational disease since 2012

He is relieved to note that Parkinson’s disease has been recognized as an occupational disease in Germany since April 2024. “But it took a long time.” This has been the case in France since 2012.

Questionnaire submitted at the end of April – the answer is still pending

Roßkothen had already filled out an eight-page questionnaire in April that he had received from the professional association. Information on sprays, frequency, symptoms of the disease, prevention – all information that was requested in order to assess the extent to which affected farmers can claim support and compensation.

Not much hope for compensation

He submitted this information on April 30 and then waited for a response. His hope for compensation is not great. “I’m 62 years old.” By the time something is recognized, I’ll already be retired.” But he wants to shake things up. Make affected colleagues aware that they could also be affected. “I think the number of unreported cases is quite high,” he says. He suspects that other farmers may be too proud to question physical ailments or have them examined by a doctor.

Table tennis as a distraction

He does everything he can to maintain his mobility and to fight against the fact that Parkinson’s disease limits his life too much. He gets distracted by playing table tennis. At PingPongParkinson Germany e. V. he is regularly on the table tennis table and misses out on an international field of participants at world championships. He only competed in Laško, Slovenia in September and made it to the quarter-finals in singles and doubles.

Meeting at the table tennis table: At the world championship of the Pingpong-Parkinson organization, Hubert Roßkothen (right) met the Bavarian cabaret artist Wolfgang Krebs, who also suffers from the disease.
Meeting at the table tennis table: At the world championship of the Pingpong-Parkinson organization, Hubert Roßkothen (right) met the Bavarian cabaret artist Wolfgang Krebs, who also suffers from the disease. © private

Roßkothen speaks of great encounters at these tournaments, enthusiasm flashes in his eyes when he talks about conversations with the former television presenter Frank Elstner, who also suffers from Parkinson’s. Or when he shows a picture of him with the cabaret artist Wolfgang Krebs. He also has Parkinson’s and will use his popularity to raise awareness among other people. As director of the Thurnau Castle Theater in Bavaria, the actor and director staged a play about Parkinson’s. “Small steps,” they say. “Maybe I can get it performed in the Mühldorf area too.”

Encounter with showmaster and cabaret artists

Not the only goal, adds Roßkothen. In winter he will undergo complex therapy. He will spend five weeks in a special Parkinson’s clinic in Bad Gögging. And face new challenges in the new year. Of course, this is primarily Parkinson’s disease. On the other hand, there are the table tennis tournaments that are spread all over Germany and that give him so much strength and distraction.