United Kingdom
Lindane
1995-03-27
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence or research is available
from (a) within the United Kingdom, (b) the USA and (c) other countries in
respect of any correlation between aplastic anaemia and bone marrow failure with
the use of lindane, gamma HCH or gamma BHC; and if she will make a statement. [15497]
Mr. Sackville:
In 1992 the Advisory Committee on Pesticides reviewed the substantial number of
worldwide reports, published in the open literature as well as unpublished
reports, on lindane exposure and aplastic anaemia. The ACP review focused
particularly on cases of people in the United Kingdom who had been diagnosed as
having aplastic anaemia and who had been exposed to lindane in pesticidal
products. The committee concluded that the weight of evidence suggested that
lindane does not cause aplastic anaemia in man. On the basis of the information
available, the ACP recommended that no regulatory action on this aspect was
justified.
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence she has of skin
complaints being caused by lindane, gamma HCH or gamma BHC; and if she will make
a statement. [15496]
Mr. Sackville:
In the United Kingdom lindane is used mainly as an agricultural pesticide. Its
only other use in the UK is in some products licensed under the Medicines Act
1986 for the treatment of scabies and crablice, and available only from
pharmacies. There are no veterinary uses of lindane in the UK.
The London poisons unit undertook a review of suspected cases of lindane
poisoning reported to the unit between 1969 and 1988. The results were submitted
to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides for evaluation during its review of
lindane in 1991 92. Data were available on 110 cases, in six of which skin
irritation was reported. Details of this review were published in December 1992
in the document "Evaluation on Gamma HCH (Lindane 2," copies of which
are available in the Library.
Dermatoses can be caused by an allergic reaction to any chemical, whether
naturally occurring or manufactured, and some people may be especially sensitive
to ingredients of pesticides or medicines. Apart from these very rare cases, no
adverse effects should be expected in the short, medium or long term if the
product is used in strict accordance with the recommendations on the label and
accompanying literature, which give dose and safety precautions.
Column 413
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence is available from the
World Health Organisation regarding the rates of breast cancer in countries
where the use of lindane or gamma hexachlorocyclohexane is banned or restricted.
[15502]
Mr. Sackville:
Lindane is used in many countries. In developed countries, the use of
pesticides is regulated by the conditions of approval, and is to that extent
restricted. Conditions of approval vary from country to country. Since 1984
lindane, or gamma hexachlorocyclohexane, has been withdrawn from use as a
pesticide in Indonesia, Kuwait, Morocco, New Zealand, St. Lucia and two European
Union countries, Sweden and Finland.
There are several known risk factors involved in the development of breast
cancer but no convincing evidence that exposure to lindane is one. Breast cancer
rates alone, in countries in which lindane is banned, give no indication of
whether or not there might be a causal relationship.
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the
effect of exposure to lindane gamma HCH or gamma BHC on pregnant women and their
foetuses. [15493]
Mr. Sackville:
The information on humans is very limited. Adverse effects have been reported
in spray operators or workers involved in the manufacture of gamma HCH. These
include an increased incidence of spontaneous abortions and stillbirths.
However, in all cases exposure to other pesticides or chemicals involved in the
manufacture of gamma HCH occurred, therefore it is not possible to conclude that
these effects are related to exposure to gamma HCH.
The Advisory Committee on Pesticides has reviewed both published and
unpublished data on the effects of lindane on human and animal reproduction and
fertility. It did not conclude that, used under the terms of approval, there is
a risk from lindane to pregnant women or their foetus.
Full details were given in the document "Evaluation of Gamma HCH (Lindane
2)", December 1992, copies of which are available in the Library.
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health in which EU countries lindane, gamma
HCH and gamma BHC are banned or restricted; and if she will make a statement [15506]
Mr. Sackville:
The use of lindane is restricted in the United Kingdom and all other European
Union countries. Approval for the use of lindane as a pesticide has been
withdrawn in Sweden and Finland.
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence she has that lindane,
gamma HCH or gamma BHC causes or contributes to CHARGE syndrome; and if she will
make a statement. [15494]
Mr. Sackville:
In 1994 the subcommittee on pesticides reviewed data from the CHARGE
Association family support group, and cases of CHARGE syndrome linked with
pesticide exposure which had been reported to the Health and Safety Executive.
The SCP agreed that no conclusions could be drawn from the reports available,
but that the situation be reviewed on a periodic basis.
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health which products designed to kill lice
on children
Column 414
contain lindane, gamma HCH or gamma BHC; and if she will make a statement. [15495]
Mr. Sackville:
Medicines Control Agency records show that quellada application is the only
product currently licensed in the United Kingdom containing lindane--alternatively
known as gamma HCH or gamma BHC--which is indicated to kill lice on children.
The Medicines Control Agency ensures that all medicines on the UK market meet
acceptable standards of safety, quality and efficacy.
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