LINDANE

    Explanation

    Recent sessions of the CCPR have:

    (i)    Questioned whether prunes should be included with the
           recommended MRL for plums (1977);

    (ii)   Asked the JMPR to review its recommended 2 mg/kg level for
           lettuce in the light of USA evidence that 3 mg/kg would seem
           more appropriate (1977);

    (iii)  Questioned the JMPR proposed level of 0.5 mg/kg for tomatoes on
           the grounds that it was based on only two trials in one country
           involving exposures due to the use of smoke tablets in a
           glasshouse; whereas current usages may require limits up to 3
           mg/kg (1979).

    RESIDUES AND THEIR EVALUATION

    Plums and `Prunes'

    After reviewing information previously considered, the meeting was not
    aware of any data relating specifically to residues in dried plums of
    the kind widely marketed and commonly referred to as `prunes' in
    English-speaking countries.  Until such data becomes available
    therefore, it was recommended that the commodity `prunes' should not
    be covered by the recommendation for plums.

    Lettuce

    In the absence of a submission of the new data referred to at the 1977
    Session of the CCPR, the data considered at the 1975 and 1977 JMPR
    meetings were re-examined.  These data clearly support a limit of 2
    mg/kg for lettuce, even if a preharvest interval of 5 days is selected
    instead of one for 7 days.  Therefore, the meeting decided not to
    alter its recommendation.

    Tomatoes

    The suggested figure of 3 mg/kg arises from a registered use (U.S.A.)
    which permits lindane smokes in tomato greenhouses at the rate of 1 g
    (a.i.) per 100 cu. ft. with one day pre-harvest interval.  Residues
    found in tomatoes one day after 15 hour exposure to smoke were 0.9 and
    1.4 mg/kg and three days later were 0.9 and 1.3 mg/kg (Smith, 1961).
    The limited data together with data considered at the 1977 Meeting and
    country information (Cummings, 1979) on changing sources of winter
    vegetables and changes in use patterns for lindane in the USA, make it
    possible to increase the recommended limit to 2 mg/kg for lindane on
    tomatoes.

    APPRAISAL

    Questions arising from the 1977 and 1979 Sessions of the CCPR referred
    to the meeting were: (1) whether prunes should be included in the
    recommendations for plums; (2) whether a limit of 3 mg/kg for lettuce
    would be more appropriate than 2 mg/kg, and (3) whether a limit of 3
    mg/kg for greenhouse tomatoes might be more appropriate than 0.5
    mg/kg.

    On (1) the meeting notes that none of its recommendations for lindane
    in plums include prunes and recommends that prunes should be excluded
    until such time as residue data are available to support a limit.

    On (2) the JMPR examined the data summarized in its 1975 and 1977
    monographs and concluded that its recommended limit of 2 mg/kg on
    lettuce is supported.  National governments with differing data
    derived from supervised trials are urged to make it available to the
    Joint Meeting.

    On (3) the 1979 JMPR considered new residue data and use pattern
    information on greenhouse tomatoes and concluded that the limit for
    tomatoes should be increased to 2 mg/kg with a one-day preharvest
    interval.  The analytical distinction between 2 mg/kg and 3 mg/kg is
    not considered to be of significance.

    RECOMMENDATIONS

    The previous maximum residue limit for lindane in or on tomatoes is
    amended as follows:

                                                                
    Commodity        Maximum       Preharvest interval on which
                     residue       the recommendation is
                  limit (mg/kg)    based (days)
                                                                

    Tomatoes           2              (Greenhouse) 1
                                                                

    FURTHER WORK OR INFORMATION

    Desired

    1. Details of the results of supervised trials on the use of lindane
       on greenhouse lettuce.

    2. Results of supervised trials on the residues of lindane in prunes
       made from treated plums.

    REFERENCES

    Cummings, J.G. Private communication (1979).

    Smith, F.G.  Studies on Residues from Lindane Smokes on Greenhouse
    Vegetables, US Department of Agriculture Report, 1961.
    

    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 4)
       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: 1989 evaluations Part II Toxicology)
       Lindane (Pesticide residues in food: 1997 evaluations Part II Toxicological & Environmental)