Study confirms sheep-dip fears
01 July 1999
Study confirms sheep-dip fears
By Johann Tasker
MINISTERS are seeking urgent advice after a government-funded study confirmed that exposure to organophosphate (OP) sheep dip may cause chronic ill-health.
The results of the study, commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture, were published today (Thursday) by the Edinburgh-based Institute of Occupational Medicine.
They “suggest that, in at least some of the sheep farmers and farm workers, reported symptoms are due to exposure to sheep-dip chemicals,” said the report.
The findings are an embarrassment for the government, which permits the use of OP sheep dip containing diazinon but not other pesticides made with the same chemical.
Junior agriculture minister Jeff Rooker said the results of the research were being sent to the governments expert advisory committees for urgent consideration.
“The report identifies handling of OP sheep-dip concentrates as the main source of exposure,” said Mr Rooker.
“It suggests that the identified exposure to concentrates was associated with an increased likelihood of ill-health in the groups studied.”
The survey involved 612 sheep-dippers who had experienced at least three days sheep-dipping, as well as 160 individuals who had not been exposed to sheep dip.
The Committee on Toxicity Working Group on OPs will now consider whether further action should be taken to limit the use of OP dips.
The Veterinary Products Committee and the Advisory Committee on Pesticides will also consider whether further safety measures are necessary.
In addition, Mr Rooker has asked to meet with OP manufacturers within the next week to discuss what action they will be proposing in the light of todays findings.
Many sheep-farmers have long claimed they have suffered mood swings, memory loss, muscular malfunctioning and depression as a result of using OP dips.
Researchers found that the most important source of exposure to OP chemicals was contact with concentrate dip, almost always on the hands.
Campaigners for OP victims said the study could lead to a flood of legal claims from farmers and farm workers who claim they have been poisoned by sheep dip.
Earlier today, Elizabeth Sigmund of the OP Information Network said the publication of the report could mark a watershed in the fight to get OP dip banned.
“If this report positively supports a link between OP exposure and chronic ill health, then it is incumbent on the government to compensate these people,” she said.
More than 150 farmers have contacted the legal firm Wolferstans after Farmers Weekly publicised the biggest OP sheep-dip case to come before the courts.
About 200 farmers and workers could now be involved in the group action against OP sheep-dip manufacturers or their employers who told them to use the dip.
A High Court judge last month urged any other farmers who wanted to join the action to contact the legal firms co-ordinating the case as soon as possible.