Sub-Groups of the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT)

ORGANOPHOSPHATES WORKING GROUP

The next meeting of the group will be held at 10.00 am on Tuesday 13th October 1998 at Department of Health in the Occupational Health Suite at Skipton House

AGENDA

1. Apologies for Absence

2. Minutes of the meeting held on 17th September 1998 - OPG/MIN/98/3

3. Matters arising

3.1 Report of Royal Colleges of Physicians and Psychiatrists

3.2 Reported symptoms in individual submissions to group - OPG/98/28
and contribution from Professor Renwick on case reports - OPG/98/29

3.3 Information from MCA on OP based head-lice treatments - OPG/98/30 (to follow)

3.4 Report of meeting with Mrs Sigmund

3.5 Periods of Registration of Organophosphate Sheep Dip Products - OPG/98/32

4. Consideration of list of questions

4.1 Epidemiology (framework paper from Professor Coggan)* - OPG/98/31 (to be tabled)

4.2 Clinical signs and symptoms and laboratory data*

4.3 Consequences of different patterns of exposure

4.4 Mechanism

5. Discussions with the Countess of Mar at 2pm

6. Any other business

7. Date of next meeting: 23rd November 1998

* Paper OPG/98/27 circulated with Secretariat letter of 24 September will be helpful in this discussion.

Secretariat
October 1998

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The fourth meeting of the COT Working Group on Organophosphates (OPs) took place on the 13th October. At the meeting the Working Group discussed the drafting of its report. The Group also met with the Countess of Mar and received feedback from a meeting between certain members of the Working Group and representatives from the OP Information Network.

The Working Group commenced the initial drafting of its report. The discussions focused on three subject areas: epidemiology, clinical signs and symptoms and the consequences of different patterns of exposure. The Group asked that a further literature search be conducted to ensure all relevant papers are considered in the review.

The Countess of Mar attended the meeting to give personal testimony of the adverse health effects experienced following exposure to OP sheep dip. The Working Group welcomed the opportunity to discuss a range of issues with the Countess and found the discussions very helpful.

In the week prior to the Working Group meeting four members of the Group had travelled to Exeter to meet with Elizabeth Sigmund from the OP Information Network along with William Sigmund, Suzi Leather and Evan Jones. At the meeting members had the opportunity to discuss the large number of cases of adverse health effects following exposure to OPs reported to the OP Information Network, and what information could be gained from these cases. Again, members found these discussion very helpful. Further meetings with other interested parties are planned.

Information on the COT Working Group on OPs can be found on the COT homepage (www.open.gov.uk/doh/cot.htm)

The next meeting of the Working Group will take place on 23rd November 1998.

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