Written question asked by Countess of Mar (Crossbench), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Rooker (Labour) on Wednesday, 14 May 2008.

Health: Organophosphates

Question: asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their response to studies carried out in the United Kingdom and in the United States on the relationship between levels of paraoxonase 1 in humans and their ability to detoxify metabolites of certain organophosphate products; and whether the research findings influence their assessment of the health effects of exposure of people to organophosphate sheep dips.

Answer: The preliminary advice from the Committee on Toxicity (COT) on the paraoxonase 1 research carried out in the United Kingdom was that individuals who metabolise organophosphates (OPs) most quickly are more likely to report ill health. This is the reverse of the tested hypothesis. As a part of the preliminary advice, COT stated that there would be a need to review all the available research in order to advise on the current state of knowledge regarding OPs. Accordingly, the review is in progression and will include all work from across the scientific community, including that carried out in the USA. Completion of the review is not anticipated before late 2009. The final advice from COT on paraoxonase and the other aspects of the possible link between OPs and human health will become available once COT has considered all the evidence. The Government must wait for the final advice from COT before the significance of the research into the possible link between organophosphates and human health can be fully considered.

Secondary information