Survey of health and pesticide exposure (SHAPE): start of data analysis

21 May 2003

A survey looking at the potential health effects of organophosphates has just started analysing data collected from interviews and clinical examinations and the findings will be reported in August 2003. The Survey of Health and Pesticide Exposure (SHAPE) is being led by Dr Tony Fletcher, epidemiologist from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, along with collaborators from Institute of Occupational Medicine and the West London Regional Neurosciences Centre at Imperial College.

Organophosphates (OPs) have been used in sheep dipping liquids to control sheep scab, and as a pesticide for treating crops and fruits. Many sheep dippers and farm workers have reported a variety of illnesses, which they attribute to handling these OPs, and many of them have had to leave farming. Over a thousand people reporting illnesses linked to OPs have been identified by four organisations which have been giving them support and advice.

The organisations are the Northern Ireland Organophosphorous Sufferers Association (NIOPSA), the Organophosphate Information Network (OPIN), the Organophosphorous Users Group (OPUS) and the Action on Pesticide Exposure (PEX). These organisations have been the stimulus for the current survey which will be the first independent and systematic survey of this large group of sufferers. The survey is funded by DEFRA (formerly MAFF) and will be completed in August this year.

In the first phase of the study over 400 participants were interviewed by telephone and asked about their health, employment and exposure to chemicals. A further 115 completed written questionnaires covering the same areas. The main aim of this study is to provide a picture of the degree of similarity in patterns of ill health and exposure among these individuals. This project plans to provide such a picture. Phase 2 of the study consisted of clinical neurological examinations for 47 of the participants from Phase 1 of the study.