What Doctors Don't Tell YouMore evidence – if more is needed – that sheep dip containing organophosphates causes ill health in farmers has been uncovered in a study from the Manchester Royal Infirmary.
Researchers investigated 175 cases of sick farmers whose illness was put down to exposure to sheep dip and compared them with 234 others who had good health, but had dipped sheep and were of a similar age.
The research team found that diazinon, the organophosphate in sheep dip, was the likely cause of the chronic health problems among the farmers.
Although a link to acute conditions had already been established, the association of sheep dip with chronic illnesses had previously only been suspected (Lancet, 2002; 359: 763-4).
Daniel Redwood DC
Tom Ferguson MD
