Reducing Human and Environmental Risks from the Insecticide Lindane Irina Ize and Keith Chanon ACS symposium SMOC WG Meeting March, 2005

Outline Background Status of Lindane in North America Canada US Mexico NARAP development process and highlights Next steps

Why a NARAP on Lindane and Other HCH Isomers? Persistent, toxic, and bioccumulative organochlorine pesticide Continues to be used for varying applications in the 3 countries One of the most abundant and pervasive organochlorine contaminants found in the environment Nominated as a substance of regional concern by the U.S. in 1999

Chemical Structure Gamma - HCH

Status of Lindane in North America Lindane is currently used in the agriculture, veterinary and pharmaceutical sectors. Seed treatment Protect livestock from ticks, fleas and other insects Use on ornamental plants Used in shampoos and creams to treat head lice and scabies

US and Canada joint reevaluation Canada and U.S. collaborated to reevaluate the registered agricultural uses of lindane ( ) Canada deregistered lindane: all agricultural uses eliminated by December 31, 2004 U.S. seed treatment (2002 Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) permits seed treatment use for 6 crops)

Country Status - Canada AgriculturalPublic Health All uses eliminated by December 31, 2004 Recommendation of revocation of all lindane MRLs, including domestic and import Will consider requests to modify or maintain MRLs to cover imports Approved as a pharmaceutical drug for lice and scabies treatment Initiating benefit/risk assessment to include review of case reports, alternatives, marketing data, prescription status

Country Status – U.S. AgriculturalPublic Health Seed treatment for barley, corn, oats, rye, sorghum, wheat (RED, 2002) Approved for lice and scabies, by prescription under FDA authority FDA reevaluation: boxed warning, reduced package size and medication guide State legislation banning pharmaceutical uses (California ban, proposed legislation in NY and Illinois)

AgriculturalVeterinary/ Livestock Public HealthIndustrial Ornamental plants – folliar application Seed treatment (oat, barley, corn, sorghum, wheat) Tick, flea, fly larvae control for cattle and pigs Lice and scabies (scabies is one of the 10 principle causes of morbidity) Public health campaigns (previously recommended to control scorpions) Formulation plants All lindane is imported Source: Catálogo oficial CICOPLAFEST COFEPRIS Country Status - Mexico

NARAP Development Process Establishment of the Lindane Task Force (2003) with membership from government and a wide range of public stakeholders from all three countries Pesticide industry, academia/children’s health, environmental groups, indigenous groups Indigenous representation from all 3 countries Alternates from different countries

Stakeholder Outreach Two public meetings – Guadalajara, Mexico (2003), Anchorage, Alaska (2004) Countries initiated separate national outreach efforts to determine domestic regulatory actions

In anticipation of the NARAP, the National Institute of Ecology (INE) published a “National Diagnostic Report” Updates statistics on production, imports, exports Identifies commercial names, prices, selling patterns, quantities used… Identifies possible alternatives and economic implications Stakeholder Outreach in Mexico – an Example

Groundbreaking process led by (INE) and the Ministry of Environment to develop a regulatory position on lindane 3 stakeholder meetings with participation from industry, academia, indigenous and environmental groups information sharing between the different sectors analysis of alternatives discussion of phase-out and use reduction options

National Actions Resulting from the Task Force and Outreach Activities Mexico – commitment to phase-out all lindane uses U.S. – re-evaluation of the seed treatment uses to determine if they meet current safety standards; work with pharmaceutical companies to facilitate development of alternatives Canada – will monitor the pharmaceutical use of lindane and explore measures for addressing potential health and environmental risks

Key Issues Identified by the Task Force Production – waste isomers Wastewater Import/export Alternatives Subsistence diets Long range transport

Lindane NARAP Goals and Objectives Cooperatively take actions in the three countries towards reduction of exposure of humans and the environment to lindane and other HCH isomers Reducing or eliminating uses Providing and promoting outreach and education in North America Encouraging science and research and the use of safer alternatives Engaging in capacity building through the development of strong and effective partnerships, and strengthening working relationships between regulatory agencies in the three countries

Lindane NARAP Actions Pharmaceutical Agriculture – Veterinary Agriculture - Pesticide Trade Issues Waste Management Issues Science and Research Outreach and Education Ensuring Compliance Leveraging Resources Integration with International Activities

Lindane NARAP Highlights Workshop on alternatives, organic methods and integrated strategies Inventory of lindane products Outreach and education efforts to inform of possible risks associated with lindane and alternatives Support a biomonitoring survey

NARAP Highlights (cont.) Promote research and exchange information on exposures resulting from lindane uses the environmental effects associated with the use of lindane Share information on national enforcement strategies and commit to enforcing actions through existing legal frameworks

NARAP Highlights (cont.) Address environmental contamination caused by the production of lindane and HCH isomers For every ton of lindane produced, between 5-6 tons of unwanted waste isomers are generated Work through international organizations and support risk reduction activities in China and India

Next Steps Complete government interagency review SMOC review 30 day public review Complete final government interagency review Final task force review Final SMOC review Council approval (November 2005) Establish an implementation task force

Conclusions Regional cooperation is a powerful means for reducing and eliminating risks Risks from long-range transport require regional and international collaboration NARAP process and the CEC strengthens regional action ensuring public participation Health and environmental risks will be reduced significantly as the NARAP is implemented