EVIDENCE THAT OILSEED RAPE (BRASSICA-NAPUS SSP OLEIFERA) CAUSES RESPIRATORY ILLNESS IN RURAL DWELLERS

A study of 25 residents in a small Scottish village over a two-year pe riod investigated respiratory symptom reporting in the presence or abs ence of oilseed rape. Symptom reporting in the year when oilseed rape virtually surrounded the village, varied during the growing season of the crop and was at its highest coincident with peak flowering. At the same period of the following year when the crop was absent, symptom r eporting was significantly lower The symptoms which correlated most st rongly with peak oilseed rape flowering were sneezing, cough, headache , eye irritation and the total of these and other symptoms. Increased symptoms were reported by 12 of the participants though only seven of these were judged to be atopic. The symptoms did not correlate with le vels of oil seed rape pollen but there is no clear evidence as to whic h of the other factors associated with the crop might be the cause.