asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many studies on the effects of organophosphates they are currently funding; and whether these studies have identified any aspects which require further investigation.[HL7979]

The Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD) currently has one research project looking into whether there is a link between exposure to pesticides residues including organophosphate residues in the diet and gastrointestinal effects in children (project PS2612).

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) currently has five projects concerning the effects of organophosphates:

1. A case-controlled study of neuropsychological and psychiatric functioning in sheep farmers exposed to organophosphates (projects VM2126 and VM02302).

2. A study of the effects of sheep dip pesticides on differentiating nerve cells (project VM02300).

3. An investigation of susceptibility to long-term genotoxic effects of organophosphate exposure. (Project VM02301).

4. A study of disabling neuro psychiatric disease in farmers exposed to organophosphates (project VM02115).

5. A review of organophosphate-related health complaints (project VM0299).

Full details of these projects are available for PSD Project PS2612 at www2.defra.gov.uk/research/project_data/More.asp?I=PS2612&M=KWS&V=ps2612&SCOPE=0 and for VMD projects at www2.defra.gov.uk/research/project_data/Default.asp

The need for any further investigations will be reviewed in the light of the results from these various studies.