HL Deb 11 May 1994 vol 554 cc88-9WA
The Countess of Mar

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they accept the conclusions of paragraph 1 of the Data Requirements for Approval under the Control of Pesticides Regulations Working Document 5/9 that:

  1. (i) the main route of exposure to pesticides is via the dermal route, and
  2. (ii) rat skin differs from human skin in its barrier properties and in its structure and therefore does not constitute a direct model for human skin;
and, if so, whether they are convinced that the tests for the effects of long-term, low level exposure to organophosphate pesticides accurately reflect the effects these chemicals have upon humans.

The Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Earl Howe)

Her Majesty's Government accept the conclusions of Working Document 5/9 (methods for measuring dermal penetration of pesticides) of the Data Requirements for Approval under the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 which represents the best scientific advice available to us. Published scientific studies confirm that the percutaneous absorption of pesticides is species dependent with human skin acting as a better barrier than the skin of rats.