Number
216-EN
Section
General Section
Use
Sector
Health services
Other
Function
Other
Process
Manual activities involving hand contact
Product category
Biocidal products
Application
Treating head lice
Abstract
In many schools and nurseries head louse alarm is regularly signalled. The use of chemicals such as malathion, permethrin and lindane is more dangerous for the health care staff and children because of louses."die umweltberatung" Österreich (Austrian Eco Counselling) had collected and tested alternatives.
Substituted substances
Malathion
CAS No. 121-75-5 EC No. 204-497-7 Index No. 015-041-00-X
Chemical group
Thiophosphoric ester; carboxylic acid ester
Classification: hazard statements
H302 Harmful if swallowed
H317 May cause an allergic skin reaction
H400 Very toxic to aquatic life
H410 Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects
Other adverse effects
The substance is: endocrine disruptor cat. 2 (EU EDC database), neurotoxic cat. 4 (Vela et al.) as listed in the Substance Database according to SUBSPORT Screening Criteria (SDSC).
Permethrin
CAS No. 52645-53-1 EC No. 258-067-9 Index No. 613-058-00-2
Chemical group
Carboxylic acid esters; ethers; chlorinated compounds
Classification: hazard statements
H332 Harmful if inhaled
H302 Harmful if swallowed
H317 May cause an allergic skin reaction
H400 Very toxic to aquatic life
H410 Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects
Other adverse effects
The substance is: endocrine disruptor cat. 2 (EU EDC database) as listed in the Substance Database according to SUBSPORT Screening Criteria (SDSC).
Lindane
CAS No. 58-89-9 EC No. 200-401-2 Index No. 602-043-00-6
Chemical group
Halocarbons
Classification: hazard statements
H362 May cause harm to breast-fed children
H301 Toxic if swallowed
H332 Harmful if inhaled
H312 Harmful in contact with skin
H373 May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure
H400 Very toxic to aquatic life
H410 Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects
Other adverse effects
The substance is: fulfilling POP criteria (EC PBT working group), on the OSPAR list of substances of possible concern, endocrine disruptor cat. 1 (EU EDC database), neurotoxic cat. 3 (Vela et al.) as listed in the Substance Database according to SUBSPORT
Alternative Substances
Acetic acid
CAS No. 64-19-7 EC No. 200-580-7 Index No. 607-002-00-6
Chemical group
Organic acid
Classification: hazard statements
H226 Flammable liquid and vapour
H314 Causes severe skin burns and eye damage
Reliability of information
Evidence of implementation: there is evidence that the solution was implemented and in use at time of publication
Evidence of assessment: there is evidence of an official (positive) assessment of the substitution
Internet information: data are from an internet document and only a basic and partial evaluation could be performed
Reason substitution
CMR
ED
skin/respiratory sensitizing
ecotoxicity
Other type of alternative
Hood dryer, louse comb, shampoos based on neem-extract, soybean and coconut oil, mayonnaise (80% fat)
Hazard Assessment
Substances to be substituted: The substituted substances have several hazardous proprieties which are listed . Malathion is probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A), according to the IARC Monographs. It fulfils the criteria to be listed in the Substance Database according to SUBSPORTplus Screening Criteria (SDSC). Permethrin may cause an allergic skin reaction, according to Annex VI of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP Regulation). It fulfils the criteria to be listed in the Substance Database according to SUBSPORTplus Screening Criteria (SDSC). Lindan has evidence of endocrine disrupting activity in at least one species using intact animals, according to EU database on endocrine disruptors. It fulfils the criteria to be listed in the Substance Database according to SUBSPORTplus Screening Criteria (SDSC). Alternative substance: Undiluted acetic acid is not listed in the SUBSPORTplus Database.
Description of Substitution
Head lice are wingless insects spending their entire life on human scalp and feeding exclusively on human blood. Adult head lice are small about 3 mm long. Females lay eggs which are attached near the base of a host hair shaft. Children between 5 and 10 years old are the most frequently infested group. In pharmacies and drugstores, there are many shampoos, sprays and solutions. Most contain chemical insecticides such as malathion, permethrin and other pyrethroids or even lindane. These substances irritate eyes mucosa and can cause allergies and asthma or seizures or cause nerve damage on vulnerable. On the other hand, the lice resistance to these chemicals is already observed. The Austrian Eco Counselling recommends the following treatment methods: 1. Acetic acid flushing: Mix 5% of household acetic acid with warm water 1:1, massaging, wrap head with a towel soaked in acetic acid water. The dead lice and nits can be combed out after 1 hour. Repeat for 8 days once daily. 2. Drying hood: put on the shower cap (the lice cannot escape) and wait for 45 minutes under the hood dryer (44 °C to maximum 52 °C). Lice are drying. Acetic acid flushing is useful as pre-treatment. 3. Lice comb: Comb out nits carefully (eggs) with a fine metal comb. Pre-treatment with acetic acid flushing eliminates the nits from the hair. Hair balm makes hair easier to comb. Electric slice combs are also recommended. 4. Shampoos with neem extract, soybean and coconut oil: Oil attacks the louse armour and dried it off. The agent must be evenly distributed on the scalp. Evenly shampoos flushed with acetic acid and lice comb can be combined. 5. Mayonnaise (80% fat): leave for about 2 hours, then rinse. After treatment patients are instructed to wash all bedding and vacuum all areas in contact with the head such as car seats, coat hoods and sofas. Combs and brushes may be deloused in boiling water for 10 minutes. Items may also be frozen at -18 °C for 24 hours.
Case/substitution evaluation
This example is appropriate for the need of discarding hazardous chemicals by using instead safer chemical or technical alternative.
State of implementation
Full capacity
Availability ofAlternative
On the market
Type of information supplier
Research
Contact
https://www.umweltberatung.at/
Further information
Kopfläuse natürlich bekämpfen, Aussehen, Vorbeugung und Behandlung, 2015 https://www.umweltberatung.at/kopflaeuse-natuerlich-bekaempfen
Type of publication and availability
Free available publication in German
Publication source: author, company, institute, year
Austrian Ministry of Life and Austrian Eco Counselling. Kopfläuse natürlich bekämpfen - Aussehen, Vorbeugen und Behandlung. 2010
Date, reviewed
November 26, 2021