§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence or research is available from(a) within the United Kingdom, (b) the USA and (c) other countries in respect of any correlation between aplastic anaemia and bone marrow failure with the use of lindane, gamma HCH or gamma BHC; and if she will make a statement. [15497]
§ Mr. SackvilleIn 1992 the Advisory Committee on Pesticides reviewed the substantial number of worldwide reports, published in the open literature as well as unpublished reports, on lindane exposure and aplastic anaemia. The ACP review focused particularly on cases of people in the United Kingdom who had been diagnosed as having aplastic anaemia and who had been exposed to lindane in pesticidal products. The committee concluded that the weight of evidence suggested that lindane does not cause aplastic anaemia in man. On the basis of the information available, the ACP recommended that no regulatory action on this aspect was justified.
§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence she has of skin complaints being caused by lindane, gamma HCH or gamma BHC; and if she will make a statement. [15496]
§ Mr. SackvilleIn the United Kingdom lindane is used mainly as an agricultural pesticide. Its only other use in the UK is in some products licensed under the Medicines Act 1986 for the treatment of scabies and crablice, and available only from pharmacies. There are no veterinary uses of lindane in the UK.
The London poisons unit undertook a review of suspected cases of lindane poisoning reported to the unit between 1969 and 1988. The results were submitted to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides for evaluation during its review of lindane in 1991–92. Data were available on 110 cases, in six of which skin irritation was reported. Details of this review were published in December 1992 in the document "Evaluation on Gamma HCH (Lindane 2," copies of which are available in the Library.
Dermatoses can be caused by an allergic reaction to any chemical, whether naturally occurring or manufactured, and some people may be especially sensitive to ingredients of pesticides or medicines. Apart from these very rare cases, no adverse effects should be expected in the short, medium or long term if the product is used in strict accordance with the recommendations on the label and accompanying literature, which give dose and safety precautions.
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§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence is available from the World Health Organisation regarding the rates of breast cancer in countries where the use of lindane or gamma hexachlorocyclohexane is banned or restricted. [15502]
§ Mr. SackvilleLindane is used in many countries. In developed countries, the use of pesticides is regulated by the conditions of approval, and is to that extent restricted. Conditions of approval vary from country to country. Since 1984 lindane, or gamma hexachlorocyclohexane, has been withdrawn from use as a pesticide in Indonesia, Kuwait, Morocco, New Zealand, St. Lucia and two European Union countries, Sweden and Finland.
There are several known risk factors involved in the development of breast cancer but no convincing evidence that exposure to lindane is one. Breast cancer rates alone, in countries in which lindane is banned, give no indication of whether or not there might be a causal relationship.
§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the effect of exposure to lindane gamma HCH or gamma BHC on pregnant women and their foetuses. [15493]
§ Mr. SackvilleThe information on humans is very limited. Adverse effects have been reported in spray operators or workers involved in the manufacture of gamma HCH. These include an increased incidence of spontaneous abortions and stillbirths. However, in all cases exposure to other pesticides or chemicals involved in the manufacture of gamma HCH occurred, therefore it is not possible to conclude that these effects are related to exposure to gamma HCH.
The Advisory Committee on Pesticides has reviewed both published and unpublished data on the effects of lindane on human and animal reproduction and fertility. It did not conclude that, used under the terms of approval, there is a risk from lindane to pregnant women or their foetus.
Full details were given in the document "Evaluation of Gamma HCH (Lindane 2)", December 1992, copies of which are available in the Library.
§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Health in which EU countries lindane, gamma HCH and gamma BHC are banned or restricted; and if she will make a statement [15506]
§ Mr. SackvilleThe use of lindane is restricted in the United Kingdom and all other European Union countries. Approval for the use of lindane as a pesticide has been withdrawn in Sweden and Finland.
§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence she has that lindane, gamma HCH or gamma BHC causes or contributes to CHARGE syndrome; and if she will make a statement. [15494]
§ Mr. SackvilleIn 1994 the subcommittee on pesticides reviewed data from the CHARGE Association family support group, and cases of CHARGE syndrome linked with pesticide exposure which had been reported to the Health and Safety Executive. The SCP agreed that no conclusions could be drawn from the reports available, but that the situation be reviewed on a periodic basis.
§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Health which products designed to kill lice on children414W contain lindane, gamma HCH or gamma BHC; and if she will make a statement. [15495]
§ Mr. SackvilleMedicines Control Agency records show that quellada application is the only product currently licensed in the United Kingdom containing lindane—alternatively known as gamma HCH or gamma BHC—which is indicated to kill lice on children.
The Medicines Control Agency ensures that all medicines on the UK market meet acceptable standards of safety, quality and efficacy.