DECISION ANNOUNCED ON LINDANE
EPA will revoke all existing lindane tolerances because the
lindane uses for which those tolerances were originally
established have been canceled. Lindane is currently used in
the U.S. as a pre-plant seed treatment for barley, corn, oats,
rye, sorghum, and wheat.
Lindane also is approved by the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) for prescription pharmaceutical use in
shampoos and lotions to treat lice and mites (scabies) in
humans.
Risks from exposure to lindane in food and drinking water
are low, including risks to indigenous peoples of certain
regions of Alaska who rely heavily on game for food. Such game
may contain residues of lindane due to this pesticide's
potential for long-range atmospheric transport. Worker risks
are low for commercial and on-farm liquid seed treatment of
all six crops, provided engineering controls are utilized.
Risks of concern for on-farm dust treatment will be mitigated
by discontinuing use on barley, oat, rye, and wheat seeds, and
allowing corn and sorghum seed treatment with specified
additional personal protective equipment (PPE).
Based on EPA's current understanding of available data,
lindane shampoo products used for head lice treatment do not
pose human health risks of concern when used according to
label directions. The Agency could not conclude, however, that
lindane lotions used for scabies treatment result in
acceptable exposure and risk. FDA will implement a number of
measures to reduce misuse and risks from use of lindane
pharmaceutical products.
EPA's review of lindane was conducted with extensive input
from USDA, FDA, other stakeholders, and the public through the
Agency's public participation process. The Lindane RED,
approved by EPA on July 31, 2002, risk assessments, and
related documents will be available on EPA's website at
Lindane RED. The Federal Register notice announcing the
Lindane RED will be available at
Federal Register notice of Lindane RED . EPA will request
public comment on the RED for 60 days following publication of
the Federal Register notice.
This announcement was issued 05 Aug 02
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Maintained by
Rachel Rowe
Pesticide
Information Program
Entomology at Clemson
Clemson
University Cooperative Extension Service
Clemson University
Last Updated: April 7, 2003
http://entweb.clemson.edu/pesticid/Issues/lindane.htm
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