Chemical name: 4,7-Methano-1H-indene, 1,4,5,6,7,8,8-heptachloro-3a,4,7,7a-tetrahydro-

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:

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

Summary of the final regulatory action:

Heptachlor is banned in Lesotho under the Environment Act 2008.

Therefore it cannot be imported, manufactured, handled, sold, transported or used as

pesticide in the country.

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

Summary of known hazards and risks to human health:

A retrospective mortality study was conducted on workers employed in the

manufacture of heptachlor and chlordane between 1946 and 1976. The

study group consisted of 1403 Caucasian males who were employed for

more than three months at either of two plants which produced heptachlor

and chlordane in the USA. The results indicated an excess of deaths from

cerebrovascular disease (17 observed, 9.3 expected).

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

Reduce exposure

Summary of known hazards and risks to the environment:

Low levels of heptachlor have been found in air samples of several cities of the USA

ranging from 2.3 to 19.2 ng/m . Heptachlor has been reported in drinking water,

groundwater, plant effluent, river water, and sediments of lakes and rivers from 18

locations in U

have shown detectable levels and oysters from the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico

have demonstrated levels of heptachlor up to 10 ppb. Earthworms are able to absorb

heptachlor from the soil resulting in detectable levels of fat in starlings. Heptachlor

epoxide has also been found in the eggs of upland game and waterfowl.

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

Reduce exposure

Date of entry into force of the final regulatory action: 16/06/2009