Third of ME cases are pesticide-related

A former government scientist estimates that more than half a million people in Britain are ill because of exposure to pesticides.  Dr Lewis Routledge, a biochemist who used to work for the Ministry of Agriculture, has twin 8 year old sons who were seriously ill after being poisoned with pesticides.  In an Observer interview, Dr Routledge commented: "At least a third of all ME cases are pesticide related.  Add to that cases of immune deficiency, asthma, irritable bowel syndrome, food and chemical allergies, the 7,000 or so farmers affected by organo-phosphates in sheep dip, and I think the half million figure is conservative.  Even hay fever may be triggered by pesticide bound pollen."