Lindane haematotoxicity confirmed by in vitro tests on human and rat progenitors.

Blood dyscrasias such as aplastic anaemia and leukopenia are described following the use of lindane for agricultural purposes or against ectoparasites in animal and human health. In order to determine the involvement of lindane in these effects, an in vitro model of haematotoxicity evaluation has been used. Culture of haematopoietic progenitors, Colony Forming Unit-Granulocyte and Macrophage (CFU-GM), have been performed in the presence of lindane with increasing concentrations. Results showed that lindane was cytotoxic for human progenitors. They were one thousand times more sensitive to the lindane than rat CFU-GM. This cytotoxicity was observed with lindane concentrations similar to those measured in human blood in cases of acute intoxication and in fat tissues of exposed populations.