National Poisons Unit

HL Deb 22 February 1996 vol 569 c86WA

The Countess of Mar

asked Her Majesty's Government:

To what extent they have funded the National Poisons Unit for research into the acute and chronic effects of exposure to organophosphates, and whether there are any published results.

Lord Lucas

The National Poisons Unit, London, has been funded to a total of £28,337 by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) to conduct studies between 1991 and 1994 into the effects on human health from acute exposure to organophosphorus sheep dips. These studies were based on reports of ill-health received by the unit during that period. One report has been published on that work to date and is available free of charge from the VMD. I am arranging for a copy to he sent to the noble Countess.