Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common disabling neurodegenerative disorder the cardinal clinical features of which include tremor, rigidity and slowness of movement (Fahn and Przedborski 2000). These symptoms are attributed mainly to a profound reduction of dopamine in the striatum due to a dramatic loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc)(Fahn and Przedborski 2000). Thus far, both the cause and the mechanisms of PD remain unknown. Over the years, investigators have used experimental models of PD produced by several compounds such as reserpine, 6-hydroxydopamine, methamphetamine, and 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) to provide insights into the mechanisms responsible for the demise of dopaminergic neurons in PD. To this end, MPTP has emerged unquestionably as a popular tool for inducing a model of PD in a variety of animal species including monkeys, rodents, cats, and pigs (Kopin and Markey 1988). The sensitivity to MPTP and therefore its ability to induce parkinsonism closely follows the phylogenetic tree where the species most closely related to humans are the most vulnerable to this neurotoxin. Due to the significant neurotoxicity of MPTP, it is important that researchers appreciate the potential hazards of this toxin. Given this, the purpose of this review is to inform the researcher of the hazardous nature of MPTP and to provide guidance for its safe handling and use.