Lindane and the other HCH isomers are members of the organochlorine family of chemicals. For decades, lindane, the gamma isomer, has been widely used as an insecticide.
It is the only isomer in the group with pesticidal properties. A variety of toxicological effects, such as reproductive and neurotoxic impairments, have been recorded for lindane and other isomers of HCH in test animals. Alpha and beta HCH is classified as a probable human carcinogen. According to the contaminant data presented there is a significant decrease of HCH from 1992 to 2003. Since analyses were based on aggregated data without error values, the results need to be interpreted with caution.
However, since several other published papers support a general decrease in legacy persistent organic pollution, we also conclude here that there is a general downward trend of HCH. This trend is significant for all the seabird species as well as for the Brünnich's guillemot and kittiwake. The glaucous gull had significantly higher liver concentrations of HCH than the other seabird species. There were no regional differences in HCH concentrations.
