§ Lord Peyton of Yeovilasked Her Majesty's Government:
In which institutions purely clinical researches are being carried out into the side effects of organophosphates upon human beings; and by whom they are being conducted. [HL2507]
§ The Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Lord Donoughue)The Government fund a substantial amount of work which addresses human exposure, toxicology and metabolism of organophosphate (OP) compounds. Details of current and recently completed projects in this area are set out below. The dividing line between purely clinical and other research is not always clearly defined but projects nine and 14 seek to correlate their findings with symptoms/effects and fall clearly into the clinical category. 13WA
Table: Summary of Government funded R&D on OPs1 relating to human exposure, toxicology and metabolism Funding body Research body Title Start date Projected end date Cost band2 MOD/DERA University of Birmingham 12. The effects of acetylcholinesterases on the cellular mechanisms controlling the levels of acetylcholinesterase May 1997 May 1999 C 13. Neuropathy of anticholinesterases October 1997 September 1998 E MAFF/DH/HSE Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh 14. Epidemiological study to detect well defined chronic effects in humans of dipping sheep with OP products November 1995 April 1999 A 1 Official Group on OPs: Report to Ministers, MAFF Publications, Admail 6000, London, SW1A 2XX. 2 Price banding A: £500,000 or more; B: £300,000–£499,999; C: £100,000–£299,999; D: £50,000–£99,999; E: up to £50,000. The Government will consider most carefully the need for further research arising from recommendations from their independent advisory committees and the Joint Working Party of the Royal College of Physicians and Psychiatrists. The Joint Working Party is expected to offer advice on the design of studies involving examination of individuals who attribute their ill-health to long term, low level exposure to organophosphates.