The Effect of Treating Head Lice on Residual Lindane Concentrations in Children / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Organochloride pesticides are prohibited around the world due to their toxicity and environmental persistence. However, lindane, one organochloride pesticide, is still widely used to treat head lice and scabies in Korea. OBJECTIVE: For evaluation of the effect of lindane usage and blood lindane concentration, we conduct an evaluation of blood lindane concentrations among children who were treated for head lice. METHODS: The total study population of 80 was divided into rural and urban areas. Age, sex, parent's farming, sea food consumption and head lice treatment information were gathered using a structured questionnaire. Blood lindane concentrations were analyzed by a solid phase extraction(SPE) method. Quantitative analysis was done by GC/ECD. Non-parametric analysis was done for comparing blood lindane concentrations between the head lice treated group and the non treatment group. After a log transformation, regression analysis was done for controlling confounding variables. RESULTS: The median age of the study population was 11. The study population involved 38 (47.5%) male and 42 (52.5%) female children. Twenty (25.6%) children were infested by head lice. The blood concentration of lindane was higher in the head licetreatment group [N.D (N.D-78.9)] than in the non-treated group [N.D (N.D-43.4), P < 0.01]. The results were the same after regression analysis controlling for confounding variables. CONCLUSION: Lindane has toxicity to the endocrine system and nervous system and persists in the environment and in the human body. Therefore, careful usage of lindane shampoo is needed to treat head lice.