Government rejects OP poison claims
29 November 1999
Government rejects OP poison claims
By Alistair Driver
THERE is not enough evidence to prove that organophosphate (OP) sheep dip has caused serious medical problems, according to a government committee on toxicity.
More research is urgently needed into the impact of dips to people exposed to it at low levels, a report by the committee has concluded.
The report concludes “neurophysical abnormalities” can be a long-term result of acute OP poisoning but says evidence relating to low-level exposure is “less convincing”.
Some studies have suggested neurological impairment from OPs but others do not and the balance of evidence does not support clinically significant effects, it adds.
“If such effects do occur, they must either be relatively uncommon or so small that they are not consistently detectable by standard methods of testing,” the report says.
Identifying outstanding issues that need to be addressed, the report refers to the “major gap in current knowledge about the medical effects of OPs.
However its authors have admitted that existing data relates mainly to working people who by definition are sufficiently fit for employment.
This lack of information was described as a “scandal” by Liberal Democrat MP Paul Tyler, who accused the government of pandering to the big chemical companies.
Mr Tyler said it meant there was very little information about people who have had to give up work because of exposure to OPs.
“This is a time for political courage – Ministers must take action swiftly,” he said.
There are no longer any excuses for failing to live up to Michael Meachers promise, made in opposition, to ensure the withdrawal of these poisonous pesticides.”
The National Office of Animal Health welcomed the findings and congratulated the committee on the “open and thorough way in which it conducted its enquiry”.