Chemical name: 1,3,4-Metheno-1H-cyclobuta[cd]pentalene, 1,1a,2,2,3,3a,4,5,5,5a,5b,6-dodecachlorooctahydro-

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:

There are no exemptions for use of Mirex in Colombia.

The final regulatory action was based on a risk or hazard evaluation: Yes

Summary of the final regulatory action:

The Ministry of Health considers that organochlorine pesticides pose serious risks to human, animal and environmental health by virtue of their wide spectrum, prolonged residual action and high potency of accumulation in mammalian and man-made fats, Its neurotoxic potential for man and vertebrates, took the constitutional decision to prohibit the importation, production, marketing, use and application of DODECACLORO or MIREX products, among others. The decision was also taken because organochlorine insecticides were detected in human and bovine milk in cases higher than those which could represent an admissible risk to human health.

Under the decision, all Licenses for sale of products containing DODECACLORO or MIREX were canceled in Colombia.

The reasons for the final regulatory action were relevant to: Human health and environment

Summary of known hazards and risks to human health:

According to the results of Vargas and Vallejo, (1990) in all samples of human or cow milk analyzed total DDT was found in high concentrations. In some samples, significant amounts of (HCH) and other insecticides not included in the study were also found. They also refer that organochlorines are one of the types of insecticide currently used

In Colombia and are considered dangerous products due to their low biodegradability and their cumulative capacity in food fat and human adipose tissue. This accumulation also occurs in animal or human milk. Annex III.

On the other hand, Albert (1981), in his study called Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in breast milk and health risks, warns of the health effects of humans on the carcinogenic properties shown to have cyclodiene pesticides as Dieldrin, mirex, endrin, chlordane and heptachlor epoxide in experimental animals. It also mentions the restrictive measures taken in the United States of America and in other developed countries and deficiencies in standards and studies in the countries of Latin America, where these products the production, importation and use of these pesticides continue without limitations. Annex V.

The IARC, Volume 5 of 1974, pp. 203-210, in its evaluation of the risks of organochlorine pesticides, including MIREX, mentions that the results of a preliminary oral study in mice resulted in a higher incidence of Hepatomas in males and females. Studies in mice found that with different treatments, animals of both sexes died at 70 weeks and that females were more susceptible than males.

The IARC also refers to tolerances for mirex residues in foodstuffs (animal fat, goats, pigs, horses, poultry and sheep, eggs, fat, all raw agricultural products, fat Of animal milk and animal fat) established by EPA in 1969. This has adverse effects on the health of consumers and workers.

Finally, the IARC evaluation did not have epidemiological studies in human.

http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Mono ra hs/v011-42/ http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Mono%20ra%20hs/v011-42/

Expected effect of the final regulatory action in relation to human health:

Reduction and elimination of risk to the environment and human health by the use of compounds with active ingredient Dodecachlor (Mirex).

Summary of known hazards and risks to the environment:

The same IARC, 1974, determined that organochlorine compounds including Mirex are generally very sparingly soluble in water; On the other hand, they are very soluble in lipids. For this reason, they tend to be stored in animal tissues at levels that depend on the ingestion and the metabolic peculiarities of the species in question. Some aquatic organisms may increase the levels of Organochlorine compounds more than 10,000 times that in the water in which they live.

An additional property associated with its low solubility in water is a tendency to adsorb to particulate material in suspension in water, bottom sediment and organic matter in the soil.

http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monoqraphs/v011-42/

Expected effect of the final regulatory action in relation to the environment:

Reduction and elimination of risk to the environment and human health by the use of compounds with active ingredient Dodecachlor (Mirex).

Date of entry into force of the final regulatory action: 09/12/1993

The date of entry into force of all provisions of Resolution 10255 was December 9, 1993. Date on which it was published. Since, as of that date, all uses of plant protection products containing DODECACLORO or MIREX were banned.

The Colombian Agricultural Institute's measures have been in force since March 3 1994. Date on which the DODECACLORO or MIREX Licenses for Sale were canceled.