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Successful Reduction of the PBT Lindane

Learn about the successful efforts to reduce the use of the persistent, bioaccumulative, toxic chemical Lindane, which causes seizures, birth defects, and other health issues. Discover the local, state, national, and international solutions that have been implemented.

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Successful Reduction of the PBT Lindane

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  1. Successful Reduction of the PBT Lindane Ann Terese Heil, Senior Engineer Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County 1955 Workman Mill Road, Whittier CA 90601 562/699-7411, x2950 fax 562/692-5103 aheil@lacsd.org SANITATION DISTRICTS OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY

  2. Lindane • -hexachlorocyclohexane • Organo-chlorinated pesticide • Persistent, Bioaccumulative, Toxic chemical • Readily skin-absorbed • Causes seizures, birth defects, kidney and liver damage, death • Possible carcinogen

  3. Lindane Water Quality Criteria • Based on human health • Drinking water sources: 19 ppt • Current levels ~ 40 ppt

  4. Pesticide: Seed treatment Medical: head lice scabies

  5. LACSD Lindane Sources Human Ingestion 0.55% Head Lice and Scabies 99% Treatment Negligible sources: food residue, pet shampoos, structural, agriculture

  6. Environmental Impacts • One head lice or scabies treatment contaminates 6 million gallons of water • Cost to remove lindane in wastewater from one head lice or scabies treatment is $4000

  7. Local Solution:Public Outreach Goal: Develop a low cost outreach program effective at reducing lindane usage

  8. Get Help! Partners: • City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation • National Pediculosis Association Technical Advisory Committee 911

  9. EPA Pollution Prevention Leadership Grant $80,000 LACSD staff time and sampling City of LA staff time and sampling NPA staff time and comb discount

  10. Targets • Doctors • Pharmacies • School nurses • Day care centers

  11.  Pre-outreach survey  Simple, hard-hitting messages  Focus on environment  Also mention health impacts  Offer an alternative

  12. Maximize Exposure • Three mailings • Mass media • PTAs • Environmental groups • Web site • Hotline • Television

  13. Sample Results - Impact of Outreach in Long Beach Area After Before Before Median Lindane, ppt After

  14. Sample Results - Impact of Outreach in Burbank Area Before Average Lindane, ppt After

  15. Survey Results - Physician Behavior Change Before After Percent

  16. Pharmacy Study Results - Sales Ratios Ratio Lindane to Non-Lindane Remedies Control Outreach

  17. Feedback • 6400+ web site hits • Few hot line calls • Numerous e-mails “… I’m adding a few pictures of what comes out of my lesions. What you see here is not a blood clot but some kind of membrane sac filled with fluid with blood mixed in with it. It also has a lot of little black specks inside of it.”

  18. Outreach Package Contains: • Sample letters • Sample press releases • Samples of outreach materials • Generic version of outreach video • Electronic versions of artwork

  19. State Solution:Legislation • AB 2318 Lowenthal • Ban medical uses of lindane in California • Signed by Governor Davis in Sept. 2000 • Takes effect January 1, 2002

  20. National Solution: Regulation Head lice and scabies Agriculture Landscaping Veterinary EPA is reviewing all lindane registrations this year

  21. International Solution:Cooperation • USA/Canada/Mexico • Commission for Environmental Cooperation • North American Regional Action Plan for lindane

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