Since the agricultural ban in August 2006 the only permitted use of lindane in the United States is for lice and scabies treatment. California banned the use of lindane for lice and scabies control in 2002. The state's water is cleaner, and according to an informal survey of healthprofessionals, lindane has not been missed. Other states are working toward a ban as well, while Morton Grove, the primary distributor of lindane, has tied up two organizations in lawsuits over lindane
California's Lindane Ban
California banned the use of lindane for lice and scabies control in 2002. The state's water is cleaner, and according to an informal survey of health professionals, lindane has not been missed. Since the ban lindane concentrations in California wastewater treatment plants has declined significantly. The study Outcomes of the California Ban on Pharmaceutical Lindane: Clinical and Ecological Impacts Environmental Health Perspectives, 12/11/2007 surveyed pediatricians in California. "Most of the respondents (78%) did not notice any difficulties after the lindane ban."
- Press Release: California Becomes First State to Ban Popular Head Lice and Skin Mite Scabies Prescription, October 2000
- L.I.C.E. (Lindane Isn’t Cool for the Environment)
- Lindane: Partial Ban in California Spurs Action in Other States, August 2004
Active State Campaigns
Alaska Community Action on Toxics (ACAT) is working with schools and school nurses throughout the state to promote alternatives to lindane, including distribution of fact sheets and "licemeister" combs. A lindane ban is included in ACAT's broader campaign for statewide pesticide reforms. For more information contact Pamela Miller, pkmiller@akaction.net.
The Ecology Center and the Michigan Network for Children's Environmental Health are working with a broad coalition of health professionals in Michigan to promote alternatives to lindane and organize support for a lindane ban. For more information contact Tracey Easthope tracey@ecocenter.org.
The National Pediculosis Association, Inc (NPA) is the only non-profit health and education agency dedicated to protecting children from the misuse and abuse of potentially harmful lice and scabies pesticidal treatments. As part of its misstion, the NPA works to encourage our nation's health and child care professionals to adopt standardized head lice management programs in an effort to keep the children in school lice and nit free. Pediculosis provides an early opportunity to teach children responsible personal health behaviors -- lessons that become valuable as children mature into a world full of other behavioral health threats. Communities that promote head lice prevention programs demonstrate a commitment to health wellness.
Morton Grove Pharmaceuticals
In the United States the primary distributor of lindane for lice andscabies treatment is Morton Grove Pharmaceuticals. Morton Grove madean agreement with Alliant Pharmaceuticals, another lindane distributor,for Alliant to not sell lindane anymore, making Morton Grove the soledistributor of lindane in the U.S. Since then both Morton Grove andAlliant have been bought by other companies. Alliant Pharmaceuticalwas bought by Sciele Pharma who have kept the agreement with MortonGrove. Morton Grove was purchased by Wockhardt, an Indian company, whois concerned with the liability of selling lindane.
"However,one third of Morton Grove’s revenues come from the branded Lindanerange of dermatological products. Lindane, a synthetic chemicalinitially developed as an agricultural insecticide and then formulatedfor medical use due to its antiparasitic efficacy against scabies andlice, could remain a weak point for Morton Grove and indirectly,Wockhardt. There have been several lawsuits filed against the companypertaining to Lindane and it remains to be seen whether these posechallenges to the new Indian owners." - Hindu Business Line 10/25/2007