Paraoxonase (PON1) polymorphisms in farmers attributing ill health to sheep dip
Subject: Your "Registered" POISONS Are KILLING More Than "Pests"...........................
Date: Sun, 3 Mar 2002 08:16:37 -0500
From: Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization: Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)
To: Paul Helliker <phelliker@cdpr.ca.gov>
Director, State of
California, Department of Pesticide Regulation
cc: Christine Whitman whitman.christine@epa.gov
Dear Mr. Helliker, your "registered" POISONS are KILLING more than "pests".
Paraoxonase (PON1) polymorphisms in farmers attributing ill health to sheep dip.
Nicola Cherry, Mike Mackness, Paul Durrington, Andrew Povey, Martin Dippnall, Ted Smith, Bharti Mackness
Human serum paraoxonase (PON1) hydrolyses diazinonoxon, the active metabolite of diazinon, which is an organophosphate used in sheep dip. In a case-referent study, 175 farmers with ill health that they attributed to sheep dip nominated 234 referent farmers who also dipped sheep and whom they believed to be in good health. We calculated odds ratios for polymorphisms in PON1 at positions 192 and 55, and for PON1 activity with diazinonoxon as substrate. Cases were more likely than referents to have at least one R allele at position 192 (glutamine to arginine aminoacid substitution; odds ratio 1·93, 95% CI 1·24-3·01), both alleles of type LL (1·70, 1·07-2·68) at position 55, and to have diazoxonase activity below normal median (1·77, 1·18-2·67). Our results support the hypothesis that organophosphates contribute to the reported ill health of people who dip sheep.
Lancet 2002; 359: 763-64
= - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = Reuters:
Some farmers prone to pesticide-associated illness.
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2002/03/01/eline/links/20020301elin006.html
NEW YORK, Mar 01 (Reuters Health) - Sheep farmers in the UK with a specific gene defect appear to be more susceptible to being sickened by exposure to a pesticide used to maintain the health of their flocks, according to a new report.
Experts have linked exposure to organophosphates--a main ingredient in pesticides used on sheep--with chronic fatigue, memory loss, aching limbs and mood changes. ... Cherry's team compared the genetic make-up of 175 farmers who reported poor health they believed came from sheep dip exposure and 234 farmers who also dipped sheep but reported being in good health.
The sickly farmers were nearly twice as likely to have variations in a gene that regulates paraoxonase--an enzyme in blood that breaks down toxic chemicals like the ones found in organophosphate pesticides. According to the investigators, sheep-dippers who produced less efficient toxin-fighting enzymes were more likely to report becoming ill when exposed to the organophosphate pesticides.
Well Mr. Helliker, "Registered" POISON applicators, some "regulators", terrorism and war all have something in common. They all involve the killing of innocent people to achieve what those involved believe is a good end." There are safe and far more effective alternative sheep dips but, they are obviously of no use if you will not allow their "legal" use.
Respectfully, Stephen L. Tvedten
If you would like to be included in our mailing list for continuing information on pesticides, Email Us. with "subscribe" in the subject line.