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.
    

    See Also:
       Toxicological Abbreviations
       Lindane (EHC 124, 1991)
       Lindane (HSG 54, 1991)
       Lindane (ICSC)
       Lindane (PIM 859)
       Lindane (FAO Meeting Report PL/1965/10/1)
       Lindane (FAO/PL:1967/M/11/1)
       Lindane (JMPR Evaluations 2002 Part II Toxicological)
       Lindane (FAO/PL:1968/M/9/1)
       Lindane (FAO/PL:1969/M/17/1)
       Lindane (WHO Pesticide Residues Series 3)
       Lindane (WHO Pesticide Residues Series 5)
       Lindane (Pesticide residues in food: 1977 evaluations)
       Lindane (Pesticide residues in food: 1978 evaluations)
       Lindane (Pesticide residues in food: 1979 evaluations)
       Lindane (Pesticide residues in food: 1989 evaluations Part II Toxicology)
       Lindane (Pesticide residues in food: 1997 evaluations Part II Toxicological & Environmental)