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Pesticide exposure link to ME/CFS
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==Pesticide link to ME/CFS == ==== Organophosphates ==== In one study, Scottish sheep farmers using organophosphate-based sheep dip to protect their sheep against parasites were found to suffer much higher rates of myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): the prevalence of ME/CFS in these farmers was 4 times the national UK average, implicating organophosphates as a probable causal factor in ME/CFS.<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/383003.stm | title = Health - Report raises sheep dip health fears | last = | first = | date = 1999 | work=BBC News|access-date=|archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|quote=Two years ago 60 sheep dippers in the Western Isles were found to be suffering from the chronic fatigue syndrome ME - four times the national average. Farmers who say exposure to the dips has affected their health complain of symptoms including excessive tiredness, headaches, limb pains, disturbed sleep, poor concentration, mood changes, and thoughts of suicide.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/906592.stm | title = Inquiry into sheep dip 'sickness' | last = | first = | date = 2000|work=BBC News|access-date=|archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|quote=}}</ref> Farmers who used organophosphate-based sheep dip were also found to be 10,000 times more likely to suffer from mental health disorders.<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/572960.stm | title = Controversial sheep dip withdrawn | last = | first = | date = 1999 | work=BBC News|access-date=|archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|quote=}}</ref> Across the UK, at least 500 farmers were left with debilitating health problems after using organophosphate sheep dip, and the [[Margaret of Mar, 31st Countess of Mar|Countess of Mar]], a life peer in the House of Lords who developed ME/CFS after coming into contact with sheep dip on her farm, has spent the past decades campaigning on the organophosphate issue.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/apr/20/revealed-government-knew-of-farm-poisoning-risk-but-failed-to-act | title = Revealed: government knew of farm poisoning risk but failed to act | last = | first = | date = 2015 | work=The Guardian|access-date=|archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|quote=}}</ref> ME/CFS researcher Professor [[Peter Behan]] studied the organophosphate link to ME/CFS, and talks about it in [https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12076750.Symptoms_of_a_wider_malaise/ this 1997 newspaper article]. In [[Gulf War Illness]] (some types of which resemble ME/CFS), most of the toxic exposures and vaccinations that soldiers were exposed to have been ruled out as playing a causal role in GWI. Except for organophosphates, which the studies found strong evidence of playing a role. ==== Organochlorines ==== Another class of pesticides called organochlorines (which includes DDT and dieldrin) have also been linked to ME/CFS.<ref>{{Cite journal | last = Dunstan | first = R. H. | last2 = Donohoe | first2 = M. | last3 = Taylor | first3 = W. | last4 = Roberts | first4 = T.K. | last5 = Murdoch | first5 = R.N. | last6 = Watkins | first6 = J.A. | last7 = McGregor | first7 = N.R. | date = 1995-09-18 | title = A preliminary investigation of chlorinated hydrocarbons and chronic fatigue syndrome|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7565234|journal=The Medical Journal of Australia|volume=163|issue=6|pages=294–297|issn=0025-729X|pmid=7565234}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal | last = Dunstan | first = R. H. | last2 = Roberts | first2 = T.K. | last3 = Donohoe | first3 = M. | last4 = McGregor | first4 = N.R. | last5 = Hope | first5 = D. | last6 = Taylor | first6 = W.G. | last7 = Watkins | first7 = J.A. | last8 = Murdoch | first8 = R.N. | last9 = Butt | first9 = H.L. | date=Jun 1996 | title = Bioaccumulated chlorinated hydrocarbons and red/white blood cell parameters|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8809349|journal=Biochemical and Molecular Medicine|volume=58|issue=1 | pages = 77–84|issn=1077-3150|pmid=8809349|doi=|pmc=|quote=|access-date= | authorlink3 = | authorlink4 = Neil McGregor | author-link5 = |via= | authorlink9 = Henry Butt}}</ref> However most organochlorines were banned in the 1980s, with some exceptions such as dicofol which is banned in Europe but still used on cotton and fruit crops in the US, and DDT which is still used for malaria control in Africa and parts of Asia. ==== Pyrethroids ==== Pyrethroids are synthetic compounds similar to the pyrethrins produced by Chrysanthemum flowers. Pyrethroids are considered less toxic to human than organophosphates, but nevertheless are also linked to ME/CFS.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.iacfsme.org/Portals/0/pdf/Nacul%20vol17%20n1.pdf | title = Is there an association between exposure to chemicals and chronic fatigue syndrome? Review of the evidence. Bulletin of International Association for CFS/ME | last = Nacul | first = Luis Carlos | authorlink=Luis Nacul | last2 = Lacerda | first2 = Eliana Mattos | authorlink2 = Eliana Lacerda | date = 2009 | website = |archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|access-date= | last3 = Sakellariou | first3 = Dikaios}}</ref>
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