§ The Countess of Marasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether there is any evidence of effects upon the human foetus of repeated, low-level maternal exposure to pyrethroids or combinations of pyrethroids and organophosphates and, if there are, how are they manifested.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Cumberlege):The Government are not aware of any clear evidence for the effects of these compounds on the human foetus.
§ The Countess of Marasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether any research has been conducted into the effects on the human foetus following maternal exposure to organophosphates, with what results, and whether they advise any precautionary measures to be taken by pregnant women as to the use of organophosphate products.
§ Baroness Cumberlege:The Government are not aware of any research into the effect of organophosphates on the developing human foetus. The precautionary measures recommended depend on the structure of the individual organophosphate and it is not possible to make general comments. Teratology studies, performed in experimental animals, are generally amongst the requirements of regulatory authorities when approving pesticides.