HL Deb 11 November 2004 vol 666 cc97-8WA
The Countess of Mar

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether any follow-up studies have been conducted into chronic autonomic nervous system effects in people who have reported ill health following exposure to organophosphate sheep dips and pesticide; and, if so, what are the results. [HL4792]

Lord Whitty

Defra has recently received the final report of a study carried out by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. In accordance with Defra standard practice, it is currently seeking the opinions of peers on the information contained in the report and as soon as this process is completed the report will be published. As a part of this study, some volunteer subjects took part in a clinical assessment of neuropathy. However, following concerns raised by the Organophosphate Information Network (OPIN) that the study had misrepresented one of the volunteer's symptoms of ill health. Defra sought an independent clinical audit of the neuropathy study. Professor Kerry Mills of King's College Hospital, London, kindly agreed to carry out the audit. Defra currently awaits Professor Mills' advice on the validity of the neuropathy study.

Additionally, Defra has recently commissioned with University College, London, the recruitment phase of an epidemiological study of retired sheep farmers exposed to organophosphate pesticides. This is due to be completed by late summer 2005. If the recruitment exercise is successful and the required number of volunteers is identified, the analytical phase of the work will be commissioned. The second part of the study will determine the nature and severity of physical, neuropsychological and psychiatric symptoms of the retired farmers and compare these with a control group. This is expected to take a further two years.

The Countess of Mar

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What research has been, or is being, conducted to establish whether or not exposure to organophosphates can cause disabling disease in a small group of people. [HL4790]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner)

The Health and Safety Executive has funded a large study at the University of Manchester to investigate the effect of genetic variation on the susceptibility to chronic effects of organophosphates. Provisional results can be found at the Veterinary Medicines Directorate website athttp://www.vmd.gov.uk.The final report is expected shortly. This is one study among a range of Government funded projects designed to investigate the possible health effects of exposure to low doses of organophosphates. A fuller description of the past and current research in relation to the possible health effects of organophosphates can be found at http:// ops.csl.gov.uk.