Scientists advocate ban on lindane

24 November 1998

Scientists advocate ban on lindane

AUSTRIAN scientists carrying out research for the European Commission are expected to call for the pesticide lindane to be banned or restricted because of a link with breast cancer.

The Austrian findings are based on a 12-year programme which set out to evaluate the active ingredients in all pesticides to give them Europe-wide authorisation.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has already concluded that lindane may cause cancer.

But two reviews by the UKs Ministry of Agriculture have cleared the chemical of causing damage to health.

• The Daily Telegraph 24/11/98 page 15, page 22