FDA urged to halt lindane use

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have been urged to prevent the use of lindane in topical pediculosis treatments for children.

Lindane has been deregistered for use as an agricultural pesticide since 2006, but its use as a prescription second-line lice treatment was still permitted.

Now Representative Edward Markey (D, Mass.) has written to the FDA urging them to bring a halt to the use of lindane in head lice treatment.

Lindane is currently allowed in cases where previous pediculicide treatment failed to remove the infection. However, there are longstanding concerns over its toxicity, environmental effects and increasing resistance to the chemical among head lice. The 2011 meeting of the Stockholm Convention on Persistant Organic Pollutants recommended combing as a pollutant-free alternative to combatting lice infections.

The FDA has three weeks to respond to the intial request. Updates on developments will be posted as they occur.