University honours anti-OP leader

26 January 2001



University honours anti-OP leader

By Donald MacPhail

A LEADING campaigner against organophosphate pesticides has been awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Plymouth.

Elizabeth Sigmund of the OP Information Network said she was delighted to learn of the award on Friday (26 January).

Mrs Sigmund has championed the cause of farmworkers who claim their health has been damaged by exposure to OP sheep dips.

Plymouth University said it was conferring the Doctor of Science degree in recognition of Mrs Sigmunds achievements in the field.

It said its honorary degrees are given to those who achieved great professional distinction or made an outstanding contribution to society.

Mrs Sigmund said: “Im very pleased at this honour as I was hopeless at science at school and left at 16 to without taking exams.”

She joked that she was being awarded a doctorate in “advanced troublemaking”, but added that it would help her campaign against OPs.

“If a university goes to this length it must think that what were doing has merit and is not hysterical or politically motivated,” she said.

The OP Information Network claims “dippers flu” and other health problems are caused by low-level exposure to OP dips. Manufacturers deny this.

The degree will be awarded at a ceremony later this year.