Chemical name: Cyclohexane, 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachloro-, (1.alpha.,2.alpha.,3.beta.,4.alpha.,5.alpha.,6.beta.)-

Final regulatory action has been taken for the category: Pesticide

Final regulatory action: The chemical is Severely Restricted

Use or uses prohibited by the final regulatory action:

Agricultural use

Pesticide use or uses that remain allowed:

Wood preservative

The final regulatory action was based on a risk or hazard evaluation: No

Summary of the final regulatory action:

Directive No. 329 of 2 September 1985 - Ministry of Agriculture - Prohibit the trade, use and distribution of the pesticides for agricultural use, including lindane.

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

Summary of known hazards and risks to human health:

Residues of lindane may be persistent in soil and foods. There may also be direct human exposure to lindane through its use in pharmaceutical preparation or in public health campaigns.

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

To avoid exposure of the chemical and the associated risks to human health.

Summary of known hazards and risks to the environment:

Lindane is moderately to practically non-toxic to bird species, with a reported LD50 of more than 2000 mg/kg in the mallard duck. The 5-day dietary LC50 of lindane in Japanese quail is 490 ppm. It is highly to very highly toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrate species. Reported 96-hour LC50 values range from 1.7 to 90 µg/L in trout (rainbow, brown, and lake), coho salmon, carp, fathead minnow, bluegill, largemouth bass, and yellow perch. Water hardness did not seem to alter the toxicity to fish, but increased temperature caused increased toxicity for some species and decreased toxicity for others. Reported 96-hour LC50 values in aquatic invertebrates were: in Daphnia, 460 µg/L; in scuds, 10-88 µg/L; and in Pteronarcys (stone flies), 4.5 µg/L. The bioconcentration factor for the compound is 1400 times ambient water concentrations, indicating significant bioaccumulation. Lindane is highly toxic to bees.

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

To avoid exposure of the chemical and the associated risks to environment.

Date of entry into force of the final regulatory action: 04/01/2002