United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
4601
EPA 811-F-95-003 u-C
October 1995
oEPA National Primary Drinking
Water Regulations
Lindane
This is a factsheet about a chemical that may be found in some public
or private drinking water supplies. It may cause health problems if
found in amounts greater than the health standard set by the United
States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
DRINKING WATER
STANDARDS:
MCLG:
Met:
0.2 PPB
•0.2 PPB
WHAT is
LINDANE
AND HOW IS IT USED?
WHY is LINDANE
BEING REGULATED?
WHATARETHE
HEALTH EFFECTS?
Lindane is a white crystalline organic solid. Most uses being restricted in 1983,
lindane is currently used primarily for treating wood-inhabiting beetles and seeds.
It is also used as a dip for fleas and lice on pets, and livestock, for soil treatment,
on the foliage of fruit and nut trees, vegetables, timber, ornamentals and for wood
protection.
The list of trade names given below may help you find out whether you are using
this chemical at home or work.
In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act. This law requires EPA
to determine safe levels of chemicals in drinking water which do or may cause
health problems. These non-enforceable levels, based solely on possible health
risks and exposure, are called Maximum Contaminant Level Goals.
The MCLG for lindane has been set at 0.2 parts per billion (ppb) because EPA
believes this level of protection would not cause any of the potential health
problems described below.
Based on this MCLG, EPA has set an enforceable standard called a Maximum
Contaminant Level (MCL). MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as possible,
considering the ability of public water systems to detect and remove contaminants
using suitable treatment technologies.
The MCL has been set at 0.2 ppb because EPA believes, given present
technology and resources, this is the lowest level to which water
'systems can reasonably be required to remove this contaminant
should it occur in drinking water.
These drinking water standards and the regulations for ensur-
, ing these standards are met, are called National Primary Drinking
Water Regulations. All public water supplies must abide by these
regulations.
Short-term: EPA has found lindane to potentially cause the
following health effects when people are exposed to it at levels
above the MCL for relatively short periods of time: high body
temperature and pulmonary edema.
Long-term: Lindane has the potential to cause the following
TRADE NAMES AND
SYNONYMS:
GAMMA-
HEXACHLORO-
CYCLOHEXANE
EXAGAMMA
FORLIN
GALLOGAMMA
GAMMAPHEX
iNExrr
KWEU
LJNDAGRANOX
LlNDATERRA
LOVIGRAM
SlLVANOL
October 1995
Consumer irsion
Printed on Recycled Paper
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effects from a lifetime exposure at levels above the MCL: liver and kidney
damage.
Lindane enters surface water as a result of runofffrom agricultural land and from How MucH LINDANE
home and garden applications where itis used as an insecticide. IS PRODUCED AND
From 1987 to 1993, according to EPA ’s Toxics Release Inventory, lindane RELEASED TO THE
ENVIRONMENT?
releases to land and water totalled 1115 lbs.
When released to water, lindane is not broken down by microbes, but it is WHATHAPPENSTO
LINDANE
attacked by chemicals in basic waters. !t is degraded by soil microbes, and may
WHEN rr IS RELEASED TO
evaporate from the surface, or slowly leach to ground water. Lindane will
THE Et iflRONMENT?
accumulate slightly in fish and shellfish.
How wiu.
The regulation for lindane became effective in 1992. Between 1993 and 1995, LINDANE
EPA required your water supplierto collect water samples every 3 months for one BE DETECTED IN AND.
year and analyze them to find’out if lindane is present above 0.02 ppb. If it is REMOVED FROM
present above this level, the system must continue to hionitor this contaminant. Mv DRINKING WATER?
If contaminant levels are found to be consistently above the MCL, your water
supplier must take steps to reduce the amount of lindané so that it is consistently
below that level. The following treatment methods have been approved by EPA
for removing lindane: Granular activated charcoal.
If the levels of lindane exceed the MCL, 0.2 ppb, the system must notify the How i wu. I KNOW IF.
public via newspapers, radio, TV and other means. Additional actions, such as LINDA NE iS iN MY DRiNK-
ING WATER?
providing alternative drinking water supplies, may be required to prevent serious
risks to public health.
Learn moreabout your drinking waterl
EPA strongly encourages people to learn more Your state Department of Health/Environment is also a
about their drinking water, and to support local efforts valuable source of information.
t protect and upgrade the supply of safe drinking FOr help in locating these agencies or for information on
water. Your water bill or telephone book’s govern- drinking water in general, call:
ment listings are a good starting point.. EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline: (800) 426-4791.
Your local water supplier can give you a list of the For additional information on the uses and releases of
chemicals they test for in your water, as well as how chemicals in your state, contact the:
your water is treated. . Community Right-to-Know Hotline: (800) 535-0202.
()r,toher 1q95 Consumer Yersior Page 2
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