Reducing Human and Environmental Risks from the Insecticide Lindane

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

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

3. 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

4. Chemical Structure Gamma - HCH

5. 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

6. US and Canada joint reevaluation Canada and U.S. collaborated to reevaluate the registered agricultural uses of lindane (1999-2002)

7. Country Status - Canada

8. Country Status – U.S.

9. Country Status - Mexico Source: Catálogo oficial CICOPLAFEST 2001. COFEPRIS

10. 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

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

12. Stakeholder Outreach in Mexico – an Example 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

13. 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

14. 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

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

16. Lindane NARAP Goals and Objectives Cooperativelytake 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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