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Published in Winter 2004-2005
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Mexico to eliminate toxic chemical lindane
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The government of Mexico announced its intention to phase out of all uses of lindane, a toxic chemical used mainly as a seed treatment pesticide and as treatment for head lice and scabies, at a CEC meeting on 8 October in Montreal.
The meeting was being held with Canada and the United States as the three countries develop a North American Regional Action Plan (NARAP) to reduce or eliminate lindane under the auspices of the CEC's Sound Management of Chemicals Initiative.
Dr. Mario Yarto, Director of Toxic Chemicals at Semarnat, called the announcement "a victory for public health in Mexico and a major step forward in the elimination of lindane from the North American environment."
Lindane is a wide-ranging, persistent organic pollutant that accumulates in the environment, animals and fish, before being passed on to humans where it concentrates in milk and body fat. The chemical has long been associated with skin irritation and nausea, but can even cause convulsions and death with high levels of acute exposure.
Production of pure lindane also results in enormous quantities of residual waste chemicals that are very similar to lindane in chemical and physical characteristics. These isomers of lindane are found throughout the globe including the Arctic region, where they are present in traditional foodstuffs such as fish, seal and whale.
William Kennedy, the executive director of the CEC, praised Mexico for its leadership: "These chemicals won't leave the environment unless we stop producing and using them, and Mexico has responded to that challenge most effectively."
Mexico will shortly formulate a timetable for the elimination of lindane use in concert with commitments in the NARAP. This timetable will also include a series of actions planned and assessed for the short, medium and long term.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reiterated its plans to reevaluate the continuing registration of seed treatment uses after receipt of additional test data. The EPA expects the reevaluation will be complete by August of 2006. Canada, meanwhile, had previously committed to the elimination of lindane in agricultural uses by the end of 2004, however the suppliers of this pesticide in Canada are currently challenging this de-registration.
Once finalized, the NARAP for lindane will likely seek to reduce or eliminate its uses, provide and promote outreach and education, encourage science and research, and strengthen working relationships between regulatory agencies in the three countries.
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