There is a connection between exposure
victims' illness and OP compounds, and there should be a moratorium on their
use pending an immediate governmental review. That was the conclusion in April
of the agriculture committee of the Northern Ireland Forum for Political
Dialogue, which heard evidence from OP exposure victims.
In its report, the committee criticised the government for
dragging its feet over the various issues posed by the use of OPs, and concluded
that information about OP sheep-dips given to farmers, vets and doctors has been
inadequate.
Response from the medical establishment has been prompt, with
assurances from Northern Ireland's Chief Medical Officer that a new diagnostic
centre will be provided shortly. Up to now victims have had to travel to Glasgow
for diagnosis.
The driving force behind the report has been the Northern
Ireland Organophosphorus Sufferers' Association (NIOSA), supported by the OP
Information Network, and in particular a NIOSA member, Ernie Patterson. The
meticulously researched evidence he gave included a damning observation on
information about the use of OP sheep-dips given out by four bodies, the Health
and Safety Executive (HSE), the National Office for Animal Health, the
Veterinary Medicines Directorate and by MAFF. The safety guidelines he was sent
contradict each other, one stating, for example, that gloves must be
worn, one that gloves may be worn, and the third that gloves are not
required!
Evidence was invited from the Department of Agriculture for
Northern Ireland, which indicated that they stopped recommending OP sheep dips
in 1995. The Employment Medical Advisory Service of the Department of Economic
Development, and HSE, gave the committee written briefings, and the Ulster
Farmers' Union was represented.
Dr Goran Jamal's warning to a House of Commons committee,
that users of OPs could be at even greater risk than previously thought is
recalled. "It is the committee's view that it would be foolish to ignore the
opinion of such an expert." They also note that the then opposition MP Michael
Meacher's call in 1996 for a moratorium on OP sheep dips has been ignored.
The committee concluded that the possibility of genetic
transmission of the effects of OP illness needs to be researched, and that
chemical companies need to be given clear direction to find alternatives to OP
products.
And NIOSA's recommendations were adopted in full. The
government should:
ensure that appropriate action is taken in order that no further cases of OP poisoning occur
ensure that those already affected by OP poisoning receive appropriate treatment and support
ensure that those whose lives and livelihoods have been devastated by OP poisoning receive appropriate redress.
Arrangements for taking the report's
recommendations forward under the new political structure in Northern Ireland
are not yet known. However, the Department of Health has contacted NIOSA to say
that a clinic specialising in patients with suspected pesticide poisoning is to
be established. (AC)
Organophosphate Insecticides-their use
by the farming community, A report prepared by Standing Committee D (Agriculture
and Fisheries Issues) of the Northern Ireland Forum for Political Dialogue,
1998.
[This
article first appeared in Pesticides News No. 42,
December 1998, page 14]