Long Overdue-Now is the time for the FDA to protect children from a toxic head lice treatment

(2009-05-12) Parents Against Lindane

This week at the Stockholm Convention, lindane was added to a list of harmful chemicals and toxins that affect our health and the environment.

The Food and Drug Administration along with federal and state representatives have known for years that lindane comes with a long list of side effects, including but not limited to seizures, blood disorders, neurological damage and death.

In 2003 the FDA issued a blackbox for lindane, the last step before banning it. It cautions that lindane be used as a second line treatment, but they had stated this before. They did add that lindane be used with caution on anyone under 110 pounds. Now why wouldn't they just say don't use this on children! http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/label/2003/006309shampoolbl.pdf

In December of 2007, the only manufacturer of lindane in the United States, Morton Grove Pharmaceuticals was issued a stern warning letter for deceptive and misleading advertising on their website and in a newsletter sent out to school nurses. A quote from the warning letter “These dosage recommendations contradict the PI and the Medication Guide, and are extremely
alarming given that re-treatment with Lindane Shampoo can lead to increased exposure and possibly
death”
http://www.fda.gov/cder/warn/2007/Lindane-wl.pdf

Morton Grove Pharmaceuticals continues to lobby for lindane on this website http://www.lindane.com
devoting a whole page to a lawsuit filed against the Ecology Center, one of many groups and organizations who have the best interest of our childrens health at heart. Just my opinion but you would think that instead of wasting time and money filing SLAPP 's (lawsuits designed to limit ones freedom of speech) MG could have come up with a safer lice treatment.

And there are safer treatments already out there. Just do a search on the web for head lice and you will find great resources. Try a good metal lice comb and some conditioner, some Moms suggest mayonnaise or oils. . Though it may be time consuming it's worth not having to pour a chemical on your childs head. Some “experts” may not agree to this natural approach for many have ties to pharmaceutical companies themselves.

The EPA banned lindane for agricultural use. California banned lindane which eliminated it from the water and with no problems in treating head lice or scabies without it. Michigan has a bill to further restrict how lindane is used which passed through the House. Other states including NY have had bills that have not passed due to lobbyists hired by MG, sadly money speaks louder than the voices of concerned groups and parents.

Back to the FDA. As lindane will be completely banned in five years, including pharmaceutical use, it's time for the FDA to step up now and not wait. There is no reason to have lindane on the market any longer. Not only has lindane become resistant, it is very expensive, and paid for by most state medicaid agencies and Child Health plans. In these times of economical hardships, cheaper and less toxic alternatives are available.

I am not a medical expert, I do not have a degree. I am a Mom whose son who has lifelong neurological issues because I used lindane on him for head lice in 1998. Since then I have advocated for a ban here in NY along with other groups and individuals, in the hope that no other child is injured by lindane.
Pamela LaBrake
Parents Against Lindane (founder)

Lindane will be banned !!!

GENEVA (AFP)--Nine chemicals, including headlice treatment lindane, have been added to a list of poisonous substances that are to be eliminated under the Stockholm Convention, the U.N. Environment Program said Saturday.

More than 160 signatory states of the convention targeting hazardous substances that can kill or are seriously harmful to health, added the chemicals to the existing list of 12 after a week-long meeting in Geneva.

"The tremendous impact of these substances on human health and the environment has been acknowledged today by adding nine new chemicals to the Convention," said U.N. Under-Secretary General Achim Steiner in a statement.

"This shift reflects international concern on the need to reduce and eventually eliminate such substances throughout the global community."

The nine chemicals that member states have now committed to eliminate are a follows:

- Lindane - used in treatment of headlice and scabies, and in insecticides

- Alpha hexachlorocyclohexane - a byproduct of lindane

- Beta hexachlorocyclohexane - a byproduct of lindane

- Hexabromodiphenyl ether and heptabromodiphenyl ether - used in flame retardants

- Tetrabromodiphenyl ether and pentabromodiphenyl ether - used in flame retardants

- Chlordecone - used in agricultural pesticides

- Hexabromobiphenyl - used in flame retardants

- Pentachlorobenzene - used in fungicides, flame retardants

- Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride - used in electric and electronic parts, photo imaging, textiles

  (END) Dow Jones Newswires
                    05-09-090712ET
                    Copyright (c) 2009 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.