Chemical name: 1,4:5,8-Dimethanonaphthalene, 1,2,3,4,10,10-hexachloro-1,4,4a,5,8,8a-hexahydro-, (1.alpha.,4.alpha.,4a.beta.,5.alpha.,8.alpha.,8a.beta.)- Final regulatory action has been taken for the category: Pesticide Final regulatory action: The chemical is Banned Use or uses prohibited by the final regulatory action: Molecular formula: C12H8CL6 Uses: Insecticide often formulated as seed protector and used against soil pests in maize, cotton and potatoes crops, then restricted as termicide, control of moths or livestock parasites and finally cancelled or stopped using in many countries. Pesticide use or uses that remain allowed: Import of this chemical is not authorised in Venezuela The final regulatory action was based on a risk or hazard evaluation: No Summary of the final regulatory action: THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA DECREES: Law approving the Stockholm Convention, which is part of the legal framework of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. NOTE: The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has signed and ratified the provisions of the Stockholm Convention related to pesticides, stipulated in Art. 3 and Annex A of the Convention. Act on Hazardous Substances, Materials and Wastes In Article 7, prohibits all uses, importation and distribution of polluting organic-persistent chemicals, with the exception of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), which may be used in a restricted manner, and only by government agencies, under the supervision of the Ministry of Health and Social Development, and with the approval of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, in case of need to control plagues. The list of polluting organic-persistent chemicals will be determined by the technical regulations and the international conventions, regulating this issue, ratified by the Republic. Resolution of the Ministries of Health and Welfare, Agriculture and Livestock and Environment and Renewable Natural Resources Official Gazette of the Republic of Venezuela It is the duty of the national executive to watch for public health, and the protection and preservation of the environment; organochlorine insecticides carry pollution problems of soils, water and air which should cause ecological imbalances in the environment; as has been detected by the indiscriminate use of organochlorine insecticides, which results in public health problems by the permanence of these residues in foods of vegetal and animal origin. For provision of the citizen President of the Republic and in accordance with the provisions of Article 36, paragraph 2 of the Organic Law of Central Administration, Article 10 of the National Health Act, Articles 4 and 5 of the Fertilizer Act and other Agents Susceptible to operate a beneficial action in plants, animals, soil or waters and Article 1 of the Sanitary Defense Law for Plant and Animal. Article 1- Preparation, import, export, storage, purchase, sale and distribution of organochlorine insecticides are only allowed for the following uses: 1.Vector control for medical reasons, provided that its application is executed by the Ministry of Health and Welfare or under its supervision and technical advice. 2.Control of agricultural pests, wherever an emergency situation and its application is executed or directed by the Ministry of Agriculture and breeding. 3.Control of leaf-cutting ants and ants, only in grainy formulations containing Aldrin and Chlordane and in direct applications to the ground. 4.Control of termite in formulations containing Aldrin and Chlordane. Article 2- The Ministries of Health and Welfare and Agriculture and Breeding will publish timely, for the purpose of this Resolution, the list of the substances considered as organochlorine compounds. Article 3- Those cases not covered by this resolution, will be remitted to the National Executive through Joint Resolution of the Ministries of Health and Welfare, Agriculture and Livestock and the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources. Article 4- To obtain authorizations to import, formulate and trade organochlorine insecticides, will be followed the procedure established in the general regulation of pesticides. Article 5- The relevant officials of the respective Ministries will ensure strict compliance of this resolution. Article 6- The infractions to the provisions contained in the present resolution shall be punished according to the rules specified in the Law on Sanitary Protection of Plants and Animals, without prejudice of the application of other sanctions contained in the existing legislation. Article 7- The present resolution will enter into force two months after the date of publication in the official gazette of the Republic of Venezuela. The reasons for the final regulatory action were relevant to: Human health and environment Summary of known hazards and risks to human health: Effects on Health: Acute: same to those of exposure to organochlorines. Chronic: Prolonged exposure can lead to excite the central nervous system, abnormalities in the electroencephalogram and convulsions. It is classified as Group 3 by IARC (possible human carcinogenic); and phototoxic for test animals. Aldrin is metabolized and drifts into dieldrin. Aldrin can enter in the bloodstream through the lungs when breathed in the air, through the stomach after eating food or drinking contaminated water, or through the skin. Exposure to aldrin around hazardous waste sites may occur mainly by breathing polluted air or by touching contaminated soil; and may also occur eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. The exposure of the general population is likely to occur mainly through consumption of food contaminated with aldrin. The exposition of some children occurs through a breastmilk diet containing aldrin. Animal studies show that both aldrin and dieldrin enter rapidly into the body after exposure. Once into the body, aldrin transforms rapidly in dieldrin. Dieldrin remains for long time in the body fat, can transform itself to other products, most of aldrin and its degradation products leave the body in the faeces. Some of the degradation products can also leave the body in the urine. It may take several weeks or years before the compound is completely eliminated from the body. Aldrin affects human health in a similar way. In people exposed to a very high quantity of aldrin during manufacture of these substances intoxication symptoms were observed. The same has been observed in people who ate or drank intentionally or accidentally large amounts o aldrin. Most of these people suffered convulsions and other effects of the nervous system, and some suffered kidney damage. Some people who ate or drank intentionally or accidentally large amounts of aldrin died. Health effects in people exposed to lower quantities of aldrin occurred because these substances were accumulated in their body over the time. Prolonged exposure to moderate levels may produce headache, dizziness, irritability, vomiting or uncontrolled muscle movements. Some sensitive people seem to develop a condition in which aldrin causes destruction of their own red blood cells. We don't know if aldrin affects people ability to fight diseases. Nor do we know if aldrin affects men fertility or if it produces cancer in humans. Summary of known hazards and risks to the environment: High bioaccumulation and biomagnification. Extreme toxicity for fish, crustaceans, birds, bees and earthworms, highly persistent in soil. The 50% disappears between 4 and 7 years. Aldrin in the environment Mobility: It is estimated that aldrin is moderately absorbed into the soil. Degradation: Aldrin residues in soil and plants volatilize from soil surface or are slowly transformed in dieldrin into the soil. It is estimated that biodegradation is slow and that aldrin do not leach. Aldrin is classified as moderately persistent product, meaning that its semi disintegration in soil varies between 20 and 100 days. It is estimated that aldrin photo oxidation is considerable. It has been observed photolysis in the water, although aldrin absorption characteristics indicate that does not photolyse significantly directly into the environment. Degradation products: Aldrin degradation main product is dieldrin. Volatilization/Evaporation: Aldrin residues in water and in soil volatilize from surface. It is considered that aldrin residues in the atmosphere during steam phase react with hydroxyl radicals photo chemically generated, with an estimated semi disintegration of 35 minutes. Biaccumulation: Aldrin bioaccumulation is significant. What happens to aldrin when enters in the environment: Sunlight and bacterium transform aldrin to dieldrin so that dieldrin can be mainly found in the environment. Adheres firmly to soils and evaporates slowly into the air. Dieldrin in soil and water degrades very slowly. Plants incorporate and store aldrin and dieldrin from soil. Aldrin changes to dieldrin in plants and animals. Dieldrin is stored in fat and leaves the body very slowly. Date of entry into force of the final regulatory action: 18/07/2005 Law approving Stockholm Convention Ratification 03 January 2005, Official Gazette N 38.098, (Entered into force 18-07-05). Act on Hazardous Substances, Materials and Wastes LAW N 55 Official Gazette Extraordinary No. 5554 dated 13 November 2001. Resolution of the Ministries of Health and Welfare, Agriculture and Livestock and Environment and Renewable Natural Resources Official Gazette Extraordinary No 32741 dated 6 June 1983. |