PESTICIDE-INJURY SUPPORT
Any excerpts reproduced from this page should be cited as: Pesticide-Free Cambridge, 'Pesticide-injury support', https://www.pesticidefreecambridge.org/pesticideinjurysupport
While acute pesticide injury is usually treated in toxicology units, the long term after effects of both acute and chronic pesticide injury can be very complex, varied and far reaching. Many people continue to suffer symptoms long after the primary exposure, and due to damage to detoxification enzymes and to DNA, can be left with severely reduced capacity to metabolise low levels of pesticides. Living with hypersensitivities to pesticides in a world where such chemicals are increasingly ubiquitous can make life very difficult for sufferers, especially since the lifelong and often intergenerational impacts of pesticide exposure are poorly incorporated into the teaching within medical schools of traditional toxicology. Some of these major gaps are being addressed more recently in new research directions encompassed by Exposome and Ecological Public Health discourse (see above), but direct clinical care remains scant and inadequate. The following charities and organisations offer important sources of information and support.
MCS Aware. Charity that supports people injured by environmental toxins including pesticides.
Aerotoxic Association. Provides support and information on neurological injury caused by organophosphate pesticides in aeroplane fuel.
Sarah Mackenzie Ross (UCL). Researches and treats neuropsychological impacts of pesticides exposure.
Sheepdip Sufferers Support group. Group campaigning for better diagnosis and treatment for all those affected by organophosphates used in agriculture.
ME/CFS. Many people with ME can link the onset of their illness to a major environmental exposure, often involving pesticides. For support, see the following charities.