§ The Countess of Marasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are aware of research conducted by Rodgers and Ellefson at the Southern California School of Medicine in 1992 indicating that "an allergic type response was occurring within four hours of exposure to malathion at concentrations over a thousand times lower than the levels known to produce inhibition of acetylcholinesterase" in laboratory mice and that "malathion exposure has been correlated to certain changes in the mouse immune system, implying that similar changes in the human immune system might occur upon exposure to malathion"; and what research has been, or is being, conducted in this field in the United Kingdom and with what results.
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonThe paper by Rodgers and Ellefson relates to findings in laboratory mice receiving oral malathion to the environmental exposure of humans to malathion through insecticide spraying. Some people may suffer allergic reactions to malathion-containing medicinal products and the product information contains warnings about the use of these products in patients who are sensitive to the ingredients. We are not aware of any research being undertaken in the United Kingdom into malathion.
§ The Countess of Marasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will make available to all medical practitioners, nurses, parents and others involved in providing or recommending treatment to eradicate head lice, particularly for children and pregnant 250WA women, the information contained in the New Jersey Department of Health fact sheet on malathion.
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonThe New Jersey Department of Health fact sheet relates to occupational exposure to malathion—mainly long term chronic exposure or acute exposure to toxic doses of malathion. This is not relevant to the use of malathion in medicinal use and there is no evidence that users of licensed medicinal products containing malathion have experienced serious adverse effects. Product information for shampoos an lotions containing malathion warns against prolonged use (for example, stating that it should not be used more than once a week and for not more than three consecutive weeks).
§ The Countess of Marasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their response to the results of the research conducted on behalf of "World in Action" by Health and Safety Executive scientists in Sheffield and broadcast on 6 October 1997 which demonstrated that the levels of absorption of the organophosphate malathion from head louse treatments was many times higher than that of workers in agriculture and industry and was five to 10 times higher than safety limits; and,
Whether they are aware of several research papers which indicate that organophosphates are liable to be absorbed in larger quantities through the skin of scalp, face and scrotum than other parts of the body, and whether they are satisfied that the tests conducted to determine the safe exposure limits to these chemicals in louse and scabies treatments containing organophosphates adequately reflect this property.
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonThe Medicines Control Agency and Committee on Safety of Medicines are reviewing the evidence provided by "World in Action", and will consider the need for further studies or changes in the recommendations for use. Malathion is absorbed slowly through human skin and is rapidly detoxified in the blood and there is no evidence that people exposed to malathion through the use of head-lice and scabies treatments have experienced serious adverse effects. Product information for shampoos and lotions containing malathion warns against prolonged use (for example, stating that it should not be used more than once a week and for not more than three consecutive weeks). The papers referred to regarding organophosphate absorption relate to occupational exposure to malathion, that is long term chronic exposure or acute exposure to toxic doses. The safety limits advised for occupational exposure are not relevant to the medicinal use of malathion.