HEAD
LICE TREATMENTS -
Organophosphate Treatments or Plant-based Oils?
An email from a concerned parent, saying that her child's
school is handing out free OP head lice treatments, highlights
the need for parents to become active in spreading news
about the risks of using these widely available products.
With the introduction of safer alternative treatments onto
the market, I have noticed an aggressive marketing push
in Canberra pharmacies of these OP and synthetic pyrethrin-based
products.
Please
contact CAS for
help in educating your school and local community about
safer alternatives to the treatment of head lice in children!
March
9th 1999
We have compiled a brochure on
plant-based head lice treatments. We would like to
distribute this brochure throughout the school system
here in Canberra.
Unfortunately,
the ACT Health Minister has already issued guidelines
for schools recommending the available chemical treatments
(which contain the organophosphate maldison, piperonyl
butoxide, pyrethrins & pyrethroids). The education
authorities are therefore reluctant to distribute contradictory
advice without approval from the Health authorities.
A
recent study of pesticides and childhood brain cancers
has revealed a strong relationship between brain cancers
and compounds used to kill fleas and ticks.[*] The specific
chemicals associated with children's brain cancers were
pyrethrins and pyrethroids (which are synthetic
pyrethrins, such as permethrin, tetramethrin, allethrin,
resmethrin, and fenvalerate), and the organophosphate
Chlorpyrifos (Used in ACT preschools).
Maldison or Malathion): inhibits the enzyme
acetylcholinesterase, causes brain disorders, insomnia,
anorexia, dermatitis, heart, lung, muscle, kidney, and
liver damage. Piperonyl Butoxide benzodioxole:
Inhibits microsomal enzymes, suspected of causing anorexia,
carcinogenisis, coma, convulsions, dermal irritation,
kidney and liver damage, hyperexcitability, prenatal damage,
prostration, tearing, unsteadiness, vomiting and weight
loss.
We
hope to work with the health and education authorities
in the ACT to fill the knowledge gap in the areas of children's
health and hazardous chemical products, and particularly
to suggest a number of effective alternative treatments
for headlice, since they appear to be on a bit of a global
spree!
May
5th 99 The ACT Health department have finally responded
after almost two months. The response is disappointing.
They do not consider that our information is worth disseminating
to the school community, and have declined to authorise
distribution of the brochure. They have instead ammended
the existing Head Lice Fact Sheet, by adding the following
caution -
"* In a small percentage of cases, sensitivity to headlice
treatments may occur and cause dermatitis, rashes or other
adverse symptoms. Pregnant women and children under the
age of 6 months should also receive medical advice before
using headlice treatments."
They have also added one website address (not this one!)
with information on alternative headlice treatments (www.hsph.harvard.edu/headlice.html),
and suggested contacting the family GP or the Health protection
Service on (02) 6205 1700
The recommended treatments are also now listed in a different
order, with the malathion-based products demoted to third
in the list. The least toxic and most effective treatments,
(classed as "Herbal"), are still bottom of the list, and
do not include the products listed in the CAS
brochure.
The schools have not responded well to the Health department's
request that they should spend yet more time and money
on reproducing and distributing this second, ammended
Head Lice Fact Sheet. So most parents in the school community
will be unlikely to see it.
Stay tuned for further updates on the continuing saga
....
May 13th 1999
A very successful meeting with the acting ACT Health Minister
this week. I hope to add good news to this page soon!
Please also see The
National Pediculosis Association website for an informative
approach to the problem of head lice!
June 8th 1999
The CAS brochure, edited,
is now available through ACT Education and ACT Health.
The pharmacies association in the ACT has also published
parts of the brochure in their bulletin this month, and
the alternative headlice products are available at local
pharmacies. A trial of one of the plant-based products
at a local preschool is being considered by the ACT Health
department. Persistence pays!
June 2000
Another head lice web site from far north Queensland...
Nit Pickers Homepage
UPDATE NOVEMBER 2003
Well, headlice are still with us, and as summer approaches,
now is the time to switch products if you are still using
OP
and synthetic pyrethrin-based products.
* Janice M. Pogoda and Susan
Preston-Martin, "Household Pesticides and Risk of Pediatric
Brain Tumors," ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES Vol. 105,
No. 11 (November 1997), pgs. 1214-1220.
