§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to carry out an epidemiological study to determine the effect of organophosphorus sheep dips on(a) those persons who have been in contact with them when engaged in (i) dipping sheep and (ii) handling sheep dipped with such dips, (b) sheep dipped with such dips and (c) persons handling wool from such sheep; and how much his Department has spent in the last five years on such studies. [136204]
§ Ms QuinIn October 1995, the Institute of Occupational Health (IOM) in Edinburgh was asked to carry out a three-year epidemiological study into possible ill-health effects in sheep dippers from long-term, low-level exposure to OP sheep dips. This study cost around £500,000 and was jointly funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Department of Health and the Health and Safety Executive. The IOM published their report in May 1999. The Government's Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) was also asked in 1998 to consider whether long-term exposure to low levels of OPs causes ill-health effects. Their report was published in November 1999. Copies of both of these reports are available in the Library of the House.
A contract has been awarded to the London School of Tropical Medicine to carry out a study involving individuals who have reported ill-health thought to be due to exposure to OPs to the OP Information Network, the Pesticides Action Network and the Northern Ireland OP Sufferers Association. The approximate cost of the study will be £290,000. The Government are currently in the process of commissioning further research to determine the causes of dippers' flu, whether there is a small group of individuals who are susceptible to OPs, what OP mechanisms of toxicity might be causing ill-health due to low-dose exposure and a review of the scientific literature on the effects of OPs on children.
§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much has been spent by his Department to establish a diagnostic test concerning the relationship between organophosphorous sheep dips and human health; and what progress has been made to date in this matter. [136232]
§ Ms QuinA diagnostic test for the acute effects of exposure to organophosphates by testing for inhibition of the enzyme acetyl cholinesterase has been available for many years.
408WIn addition, research is in progress and further research is being commissioned to examine other possible mechanisms of toxicity in OPs and their biological significance in man.