ABSTRACT
Lindane is used as an insecticide on hardwood logs and lumber, seeds, vegetables and fruits, woody ornamentals, hardwood forests, livestock and pets, and existing structures. Monitoring data indicate that lindane is a contaminant in air, water, sediment, soil, fish and other aquatic organisms, wildlife, food, and humans. Experimental and monitoring data have also demonstrated that lindane can bioconcentrate among aquatic organisms. Based upon the vapor pressure, lindane is expected to exist almost entirely in the vapor phase in ambient air. Direct introduction of lindane to water resulted in a bioconcentration factor (BCF) of 183 in brine shrimp while introduction of the lindane onto sand resulted in a BCF in the shrimp of 95. Harbor seals from the German North Sea contained lindane at concentrations ranging from 0.29 to 0.36 ppm. The most probable route of lindane exposure in humans is oral ingestion of food containing the pesticide as a result of intentional pesticide application or bioconcentration.
