September 2015
The project team
have completed the
time consuming and
challenging task
of analyzing and
interpreting the
data collected during
this study.
We are pleased
to report that the
project findings
are now available.
In summary, the
results showed that
the exposure to
pesticides for the
residents living
close to the sprayed
fields and orchards
was no higher following
spraying events
than during other
days when no spray
activities took
place. Background
levels of some pesticides
were higher during
the spraying season
than outside the
spraying season.
Overall, the levels
of pesticide exposure
were low and probably
mostly due to dietary
intakes.
This research
provides evidence
that the exposure
assessment carried
out as part of the
approval process
for pesticides does
not underestimate
the actual exposure.
The final scientific
report for the project
is available from
the DEFRA website:
Click here to view
report
Final
newsletter available
now:
Our final project
newsletter is now
available (PDF
format)
Several peer-reviewed
articles have either
been published or
are in publication.
Please visit our
Publications &
Conferences webpage
for further details.
March 2014
As Spring approaches
and activity increases
on agricultural
land, many of you
may be thinking
about the project
and asking when
the results will
be made available.
As you may recall,
our study aims to
investigate pesticide
exposure during
and outside the
spraying season
for residents living
within 100m of agricultural
field. In addition
it aims to assess
whether the methods
used in the UK regulatory
risk assessment
process to determine
whether pesticides
are safe for use
are appropriate
for assessing the
exposure of residents
living near fields.
The response
from both farmers
and residents to
participate in the
study was greater
than anticipated
and as such, the
data analysis and
reporting is still
ongoing. We can’t
provide a firm date
on when the findings
will be made available
but it is likely
to take place during
July 2014.
Study participants
will be forwarded
details of our study
findings and we
will also make these
available through
our project website.
9th December
2013
Our Winter 2013
Project Newsletter
is now available
(pdf format).
This provides an
update on our progress
to date and our
plans for the remainder
of the project.
1st July 2013
Our Summer 2013
Project Newsletter
is now available
(pdf format).
This provides an
update on our progress
to date and our
plans for the remainder
of the project.
3rd December
2012
Our Winter 2012
project newsletter
is now available
(pdf format).
This provides an
update on progress
in 2013 and plans
for 2014.
23rd July 2012
Our Summer 2012
project newsletter
is now available
(pdf format).
This provides an
update on our progress
in 2012.
22nd June 2012
The project team
has continued to
be incredibly busy
over the past couple
of months. Sample
collections in all
three study areas
have progressed
extremely well and
we have now temporarily
suspended our weekly
sample collections. At
this time we anticipate
that the sample
collections will
resume around September
2012 for a period
of 3 to 4 weeks
although our community
researchers may
ask participants
to provide a few
additional samples
beforehand.
Our community
researchers continue
to work tirelessly
on the project.
We will be presenting
a discussion poster
at 7th International
Conference on the
Science of Exposure
Assessment (X2012)
in Edinburgh, 2-5th
July 2012, on the
lessons learned
from using community
researchers when
conducting research
projects similar
to ours. At X2012
we will also be
presenting a paper
which discusses
a model we are developing
to predict the distribution
of urinary metabolite
levels of selected
pesticides and which
allows further estimation
of the distribution
of exposures and
likely contributions
by route of exposure.
We are busy drafting
our July 2012 newsletter
and this will be
made available in
due course.
26th March 2012
The project team
has been incredibly
busy over the past
couple of months.
Recruitment of farmers
and residents in
the Norfolk and
Kent areas has gone
extremely well and
we have been in
touch with our East
Lothian participants
to advise how they
can help with the
project throughout
2012. Sample collections
have now started
in all of three
study areas and
are progressing
well. These collections
will continue over
the next few months.
We have been
very pleased with
the hard work and
enthusiasm our community
researchers have
shown in the study
and we will be presenting
a poster at the
6th UK and Ireland
Occupational and
Environmental Epidemiology
Meeting, taking
place in London,
Tue 27th March,
which discusses
their work on the
project.
Unfortunately
Julie Cadzow, our
East Lothian community
researcher, has
decided to move
onto pastures new
and we wish her
the very best of
luck with her new
job. Ashley Carr
will be working
with us on a temporary
basis to assist
with the East Lothian
sample collections
over April / early
May.
East Lothian
participants can
continue to contact
the project team
using Julie’s contact
details (07833 472573;
julie.cadzow@pesticidebiomonitoring.org)
as these will continue
to be monitored.
Alternatively please
contact Dr Karen
Galea, the project
leader, on 0131
449 8000;
karen.galea@iom-world.org.
17th January
2012
We hope you all
had a lovely time
over the festive
season. Now that
the decorations
have been packed
away the project
team is getting
organized for 2012.
Firstly, we would
like to welcome
Lorinda Jewsbury
(Community researcher
- Kent) to the project
team. Lorinda will
work alongside Daphne
Dahrendorf in the
Kent area to assist
with recruitment
and data collection.
In our December
newsletter we also
welcomed our community
researchers, Tim
Hogg and Sue Attwood,
to the project team
who will both be
working in the Norfolk
area. Julie Cadow
will continue to
work as our community
researcher in the
East Lothian region.
Secondly, we
are keen to recruit
orchards, farms
and people who live
near agricultural
land in the Norfolk
and Kent areas into
the study. If you
have recently received
a letter from us
or seen one of our
posters advertising
the study and would
like to take part
we would be very
pleased to hear
from you.
Please click on
the links below
to find out how
you can help with
the study.
- If you own
or manage a
farm or orchard
in these areas
and would like
further information
on the
study,
click here.
- If you are
a resident who
lives near agricultural
fields, please
click here.
- To contact
or speak to
a member of
the research
team for further
information
about the project click
here
Due to the expansion
of the project into
Norfolk and the
need to maximize
available resources
we will focus our
sample and data
collection only
in selected areas
in East Lothian.
Julie Cadzow will
therefore be in
contact with our
East Lothian participants
to advise how they
may continue to
help with the project.
5th December
2011
Our Winter 2011
Project newsletter
is now available
(pdf format). This
provides an update
on our progress
in 2011.
30th June 2011
Our Summer 2011
Newsletter, updating
you on recent progress
and features of
the project
is now available
here (pdf format).
25th April 2011
East Lothian
We have been
very busy in the
East Lothian area.
We recently completed
a pilot study to
test and refine
our sample and data
collection procedures
for our resident
participants and
this progressed
well.
We are continuing
our data collection
in selected areas
and will be in touch
with participants
shortly to advise
when we require
their assistance.
We are still
keen to recruit
participants in
particular areas
of East Lothian
so if you have recently
received a letter
from us or seen
one of our posters
advertising the
study and would
like to take part
we would be very
pleased to hear
from you. To contact
or speak to a member
of the research
team for further
information about
the project
click here.
Kent
We have also
been busy in the
Kent region.
We have started
recruitment of orchards
and have so far
had a good response
rate. We are however
keen to recruit
further orchards
into the study.
If you own or manage
an orchard, are
likely to spray
pesticides this
season and there
are residential
areas in close proximity
to your fields then
we would be very
keen to hear from
you. If you are
interested in finding
out more about how
you can help with
our study and would
like to contact
or speak to a member
of the research
team
click here.
We have also
started recruiting
residents who live
near agricultural
fields into the
study. Again, if
you have recently
received a letter
from us or seen
one of our posters
advertising the
study and would
like to take part
then please get
in touch! To contact
or speak to a member
of the research
team for further
information about
the project
click here.
Finally, do you
have excellent people
and communication
skills; the confidence
and ability to work
independently; extensive
knowledge of the
local area and orchard
farming community
in the Kent area
and; a clean driving
licence and access
to own transportation?
We are looking
to recruit an individual
to work with our
community researcher
Daphne Dahrendorf
to assist with recruitment
and liaise with
participants in
the study. For a
full job description
and details of the
application process
please contact Gemma
Burns, HR Administrator
at IOM on 0131 449
8028 or by email:
gemma.burns@iom-world.org. The
closing date for
applications is
noon, Friday
13th May 2011.
22nd March 2011
We would like
to welcome our Kent
Community Researcher,
Daphne Dahrendorf,
to the project team.
Daphne will assist
with the recruitment
and data collection
in the Kent area.
Recruitment of orchards
and people who live
near agricultural
land in the Kent
area has now commenced!!
- If you own
or manage a
farm or orchard
and would like
further information
on the study, click
here
- If you are
a resident who
lives near agricultural
fields, click
here
- To contact
or speak to
a member of
the research
team for further
information
about the project click
here
- To register
your interest
and receive
occasional updates
about the project, click
here
Julie Cadzow
and Fiona Maciver,
our East Lothian
community researchers
have been very busy.
We have had an excellent
positive response
from farmers and
a number have agreed
to participate in
the study. We have
recruited a number
of residents who
live near agricultural
fields into the
study, however we
are still keen to
recruit residents
who live in particular
areas of East Lothian.
- If you are
a resident who
lives near agricultural
fields, click
here
- To contact
or speak to
a member of
the research
team for further
information
about the project click
here
10th February
2011
Recruitment of
farms and people
who live near agricultural
land in the East
Lothian area is
now underway and
making good progress.
Ethical approval
for the main study,
which will take
place in East Lothian,
Kent and East Anglia,
was granted by the
South East Scotland
Research Ethics
Committee 03.
We are currently
recruiting two community
researchers in the
Kent area. Further
details can be found
on the
IOM recruitment
pages. The closing
date for applications
is 18th February
2011.
Recruitment
of orchards and
people who live
near agricultural
land in the Kent
area will commence
in March 2011.
- If you own
or manage a
farm or orchard
and would like
further information
on the study, click
here
- If you are
a resident who
lives near agricultural
fields, click
here
- To contact
or speak to
a member of
the research
team for further
information
about the project click
here
- To register
your interest
and receive
occasional updates
about the project, click
here
21st January
2011
The pilot study
for the project
which will take
place in January
and February
2011 in East Lothian
was granted ethical
approval by Heriot
Watt University
Research Ethics
Committee. We are
in the process of
obtaining ethical
approval for the
main study.
We would like
to welcome our East
Lothian Community
Researchers, Julie
Cadzow and Fiona
Maciver, to the
project team. Julie
and Fiona will assist
with the recruitment
and data collection
of both the pilot
and main study in
the East Lothian
area.
We will soon
be recruiting for
two Community Researchers
in the Kent Area.
If you are interested
in applying for
this role please
contact
Dr Karen Galea.
We are currently
aiming to recruit
both farmers who
own or manage agricultural
land and people
who live near agricultural
fields in the East
Lothian area for
our pilot study.