From August 3, 2006
EPA Announces
Halt to Lindane for Agricultural Use; Risk to Children Remains Through
Pharmaceutical Products
(Beyond Pesticides, August 3, 2006) EPA announced yesterday
the withdrawal of all agricultural products in the U.S. containing the
pesticide lindane.
Environmental health groups around the country applaud the step, but
are critical of EPA's claim to be the best agency in the world for pesticide
regulation, and are calling for phaseout of the remaining uses of lindane,
including in lotions and shampoos used on children.
“The phaseout of lindane's agricultural uses is a long overdue
step, especially important to protecting indigenous peoples in the Arctic,”
says Pamela Miller, Director of the Alaska Community Action on Toxics,
an organization that works closely with indigenous communities. “We're
pleased the U.S. is finally moving to join the rest of the international
community that has already stopped using this harmful pesticide.”
All uses of lindane have already been banned in 52 countries around
the world. Until yesterday, the U.S. used up to 230,000 pounds of lindane
yearly in seed treatment products, mostly on corn and wheat. The withdrawal
allows continued use of existing stocks of lindane seed treatment products.
Lindane use continues to be allowed for treatment of lice
and scabies in pharmaceutical products regulated by the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA).
“It's about time we stopped using this long-lasting, neurotoxic
pesticide,” says Kristin Schafer, Program Coordinator for Pesticide
Action Network (PAN). “We're pleased EPA has finally done the
right thing – but this chemical linked to brain tumors and hormone
disruption is still allowed in lotions and shampoos. We're now asking
for the public's help to get FDA to withdraw lindane's pharmaceutical
uses.”
Pharmaceutical uses of lindane for lice and scabies have been banned
in California since 2002, and legislation promoting similar bans is
moving forward in other states including Michigan and New York (See
Daily News stories 2/10/04
and 5/20/05).
“Lindane is no longer allowed on pets or seeds, why are we still
allowing use on kids?” asks Laura McCarthy, Program Associate
with Citizens' Environmental Coalition in Albany, New York.
Over the past three years, a coalition of groups in the U.S., Canada
and Mexico has been pressing for a phaseout of lindane as government
representatives developed a North American Regional Action Plan (NARAP)
under the Commission on Environmental Cooperation. Mexico agreed to
phaseout all uses of lindane in 2005, and Canada phased out all agricultural
uses in 2004. Lindane was initially targeted for restriction and phaseout
by EPA in 1977, and it is currently being considered for international
phaseout under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
(See Daily News).
“All uses of this chemical are already being phased out in Mexico,”
says Fernando Bejarano, Director of Red de Acción en Plaguicidas
y sus Alternativas en México (PAN Mexico). “We're pleased
to see that the U.S. is following Mexico 's lead in phasing out lindane
in agriculture, and we hope the government will take the next step and
ban use in shampoos and lotions as well.”
Lindane is a known neurotoxin that can cause seizures, damage the nervous
system, and weaken the immune system. Exposure may also cause cancer
and disrupt the human and animal hormone systems. Because lindane is
highly persistent and travels globally via air and water, its use poses
an exposure risk to people far from the source. Lindane is one of the
most abundant pesticides in Arctic air and water, and in the face of
overwhelming evidence, EPA has acknowledged that indigenous people in
the Arctic are faced with excessive exposure to lindane through their
traditional diet.
The lindane news precedes the controversial announcement expected Thursday
of EPA's reregistration of more than 20 organophosphate and carbamate
pesticides, despite strenuous objections voiced by thousands of EPA
staff scientists who say these chemicals pose unacceptable risk to children's
health. In a news advisory released Tuesday, EPA highlighted lindane's
withdrawal (a 29 year process) and Thursday's controversial reregistrations
as evidence that “U.S. pesticide safety is the highest in the
world.” Public health and scientist advocacy groups staunchly
disagree, and are calling for an end to industry pressure on EPA and
FDA government scientists.
Source: http://www.panna.org/resources/newsroom/lindaneAgUseHalt20060802.dv.html