A08628 Summary:

SAME AS    No same as                                                          
SPONSOR    RULES COM Weisenberg                                                  
COSPNSR    Sidikman, Dinowitz, Ortiz, Perry, Benjamin, Clark, Cohen A, Colton, 
           Gordon, Greene, Gromack, John, Koon, Mayersohn, O`Donnell, Robinson 
                                                                               
MLTSPNSR                                                                         
Amd S3306, Pub Health L                                                        
Bans the sale, use, and prescription of any product containing                 
hexachlorocyclohexane, commonly known as Lindane, and its isomers.             

A08628 Actions:

05/22/2003 referred to health                                                  
01/07/2004 referred to health                                                  

A08628 Memo:

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the public health law, in relation           
to banning the sale, use, and prescription of any product containing           
the substance commonly known as Lindane                                        
                                                                               
 PURPOSE OF THE BILL : This bill prohibits any product used for the            
treatment of lice or scabies in humans from containing the pesticide           
"Lindane".                                                                     
                                                                               
 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS : Finds that Lindane is the working ingredient          
in over 2 million prescriptions for shampoos and creams meant to               
control head lice and scabies and that these prescriptions are issued          
to children, pregnant women and young mothers.  Finds that the main            
source of Lindane in sewers are from treatment of head lice and                
scabies, that a single treatment of Lindane pollutes 6 million gallons         
of water, and that Lindane has been shown to damage the liver, kidney,         
nervous and immune systems of laboratory animals. Also finds that              
there are more effective and less toxic products available for the             
control of head lice.                                                          
                                                                               
 JUSTIFICATION : Lindane is a man made pesticide that has been                 
categorized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a                   
persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic pollutant, meaning that it               
lingers for a long period in the environment, moves up the food chain,         
and is toxic to humans and wildlife. Additionally, lindane is highly           
toxic. It is a carcinogen and can cause seizures or even death when            
absorbed through the skin. In the past few years, over 500 cases of            
adverse impacts from lindane-containing products have been reported.           
Safer substitutes for the treatment of head lice and scabies are               
readily available and widely used. Despite these adverse impacts and           
the availability of alternatives, the use of lindane-containing                
shampoos and creams continues to be permitted by prescription.                 
                                                                               
Lindane is particularly toxic in the environment. After use, lindane           
shampoos and creams are rinsed off in the sink or shower, and the              
residue makes its way through the sewer to a wastewater treatment              
plant.  Since lindane is not removed well in wastewater treatment              
plants, it passes through to downstream rivers, lakes or the ocean.            
                                                                               
Lindane has been shown to be a human carcinogen. Recent case control           
studies report high rates of childhood brain cancer treated with               
lindane shampoo. These findings are supported by several reports of            
six-fold increases non-Hodgkins lymphoma in farmers exposed to                 
lindane, evidence of carcinogenicity is confirmed by the World Health          
Organization, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department           
of Health and Human Services.                                                  
                                                                               
Lindane is a known hemotoxin-blood poison. In many case reports,               
lindane exposure from recommended dosages has resulted in blood                
diseases such as aplastic anemia. Aplastic anemia, which has a high            
fatality rate, is a precursor to leukemia. Lindane is also a                   
neurotoxin - nerve poison. In many cases, treatment with lindane               
shampoos have resulted in vomiting, seizures, brain damage, and comas.         
Adverse effects have resulted from recommended dosages of this                 
product.                                                                       
                                                                               
Children under the age of seven, children who were born premature, and         
pregnant women are the most at risk for immediate adverse effects from         
lindane exposure. Lindane is readily absorbed through the skin and can         
immediately cause central nervous system damage. It has also been              
shown to pass through the placenta, creating a serious risk for                
expectant mothers. Absorption of lindane is increased when applied             
with warm water or followed by oil-based hair care products.                   
                                                                               
                                                                               
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates all pharmaceutical            
products, lindane included. To date, the FDA has taken very little             
action to inform patients of the long term effects of exposure to              
lindane. The Environmental Protection Agency has severely restricted           
the use of lindane as an agricultural pesticide due to lindane`s               
adverse health effects.                                                        
                                                                               
 PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY : New                                               
                                                                               
 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS : None.                   
                                                                               
 EFFECTIVE DATE : The bill will take effect 180 days after it shall            
become law.