LINDANE JMPR 1974
Explanation
The Codex Committee on Pesticides Residues returned the tolerance
of 3 mg/kg for lindane in vegetables to step 6 of the Procedure, with
a request for further data from governments regarding specific
vegetables and their appropriate tolerances (Alinorm 74/24 para. 129).
Residue data on lettuce, tomatoes, kale and parsley were provided
by the Netherlands and Sweden.
About 1000 samples of lettuces grown in glasshouses, mainly
during the winter, were analysed in the Netherlands in each year from
1967 to 1973. The distribution of residues in these samples is shown
in the monograph of the 1973 Joint Meeting (FAO/WHO, 1974). Between
0.3 and 6.9% of the samples in each year contained more than 2 mg/kg
of lindane.
More than 1600 samples of vegetables, including root vegetables,
were analysed in Sweden. In most of them lindane residues were below
0.1 mg/kg. Levels between 0.1 and 0.5 mg/kg were found in 3 of 204
samples of imported tomatoes, 5 of 34 samples of Swedish kale and 1 of
13 samples of Swedish parsley. Residues above 1 mg/kg were found only
in lettuce (19 of 69 samples).
The lindane residues in the fruit and vegetable components of
total diets were monitored in great Britain and the USA (Abbott et
al., 1969; Corneliussen, 1969). The residue level was less than 0.01
mg/kg except in vegetable oils, where the highest level found was 0.04
mg/kg.
According to Ulmann (1972), tolerances in vegetables of 5 -10
mg/kg are established in Argentina, Brazil, New Zealand and Marian
Island, the tolerance is 3 mg/kg in Canada, Cuba and Turkey and 2
mg/kg or less in those other countries where tolerances have been set.
APPRAISAL
The results of food monitoring programmes carried out in
countries where lindane is not extensively used indicate that the
residue limit for lindane in vegetables can be reduced. No residue
data were available from areas where lindane is more widely used.
In the light of the limited information available to the Meeting,
no amendments to the temporary tolerances can be recommended.
FURTHER WORK OR INFORMATION
REQUIRED (before July 1977)
1. A long-term carcinogenicity study.
DESIRABLE
Supervised trials on vegetables in countries where lindane is
widely used.
REFERENCES
Abbott, D.C., Holmes, D.C. and Tatton, J. O'G. (1969) Pesticide
residues in the total diet in England and Wales, 1966-1967 II.
Organochlorine pesticide residues in the total diet. J. Sci. Fd.
Agric., 20:245-249.
Corneliussen, P.E. Residues in food and feed. (1969) Pesticide
residues in total diet samples. Pestic. Monit. J., 2(4):140-152.
FAO/WHO. (1974) 1973 Evaluations of some pesticide residues in food.
AGP/1973/M/9/1; WHO Pesticide Residue Series, No. 3.
Ulmann, E. (1972) Lindane. Monograph of an insecticide. Verlag K.
Schildinger, Freiburg im Breisgau.