A research team from University College London is to study whether long-term low-level exposure to hazardous chemicals on the farm, has any adverse effects on health. The project will focus on retired farm workers in addition to working farmers. In previous studies the risk of developing ill health from using hazardous chemicals may have been underestimated because retired farmers and farm workers weren't included.
The new study, funded by the farming ministry Defra, will concentrate on the counties of Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Somerset, Herefordshire and Wiltshire.
The researchers need to find at least 80 farming people from these areas who have worked with sheep and have a history of long-term exposure to chemicals on the farm.
Those taking part in the study must have retired (at any age) due to some form of physical, mental or emotional ill health.  | | Sheep being dipped in chemicals. |
For comparison, two further groups of 80 people need to be recruited.
One group will be people who have retired on ill health grounds but have a limited exposure to hazardous chemicals and the other will be farmers/farm workers who are still working.
Participants will initially be contacted by telephone and asked a few questions about their work history and current health.
At a later date they may be asked to take part in a clinical examination comprising of memory and problem-solving ability tests.
However, Defra will only provide funding for the clinical examination if enough people can be recruited to the study. The results will be used to help devise effective policies on the use of chemicals, with the aim of improving safety and working conditions on the farm.
Everyone who has taken part in the study will be given feedback on the findings. If you have retired on ill health grounds over the last 20 years and would be willing to take part in this study, please contact Kelly Abraham or Virginia Harrison - tel 020 7679 1891
Or email kelly.abraham@ucl.ac.uk or virginia.harrison@ucl.ac.uk by 1st December 2004.
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