During tri-national meetings last week in Montreal, held as part
of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation of North America
established by NAFTA, Mexican representatives promised to
completely phase out agricultural, veterinary and pharmaceutical
uses of lindane. Canada plans to stop agricultural uses by the
end of this year. Another 17 other nations have already banned
the chemical. [1]

Hundreds of health care professionals and 58 public health and
environmental organizations have written letters to U.S.
officials urging them to ban lindane, which can cause seizures,
weaken the immune system and has been linked to cancer.

Lindane is a persistent organic pollutant, meaning it remains in
the environment for years. Lindane can travel long distances,
causing harm to people who live far from where it is used.
People are exposed to lindane mainly through eating tainted food
and drinking water.

"The U.S. should take a lead role in getting rid of this old and
dangerous chemical, and not lag behind the rest of the world,"
said Pam Miller, executive director of Alaska Community Action
on Toxics, in a press release. Ms. Miller is the official
non-governmental organization (NGO) representative on the
taskforce.

"This old, bioaccumulative pesticide damages human nervous and
immune systems and is linked to cancer," said Kristin Schafer,
program coordinator for Pesticide Action Network North America.
"The U.S. must reconsider its position and eliminate both
pharmaceutical and agricultural uses of lindane to protect
public health."

Lindane is used in the U.S. as a seed treatment for corn, wheat,
barley, oats, rye and sorghum.

The public is expected to able to comment on the U.S. position
on lindane next January, before the draft North American
Regional Action Plan becomes final.

###

SOURCES:
Pesticide Action Network press release, Oct. 4, 2004.