I –Highlights

Purpose of the Report- The TV and other media within their West Nile reporting have often failed to give the public the facts in two areas; both the hazardous aspects of pesticides being sprayed and the non-toxic alternatives are often omitted. This report gives additional information on both aspects, helping to fill the information gap.

This update-report is a supplement to the September 2000 report, Survey of Mosquito Control Practices and Less Toxic Alternatives prepared for the Maryland Coastal Bays Program. Both this update-report and the earlier Sept 2000 report are available on the website, http://skipper.physics.sunysb.edu/mosquito/

Non-toxic Alternatives - More than two-dozen examples are shown of jurisdictions recently publicizing their adoption of programs using the non-toxic alternatives such as larviciding. These towns and counties are avoiding the more toxic spraying of adulticides for mosquito control. Some jurisdictions have successfully used the non-toxic methods for periods of years after they abandoned adulticide spraying.

One significant example of how non-toxic methods are being promoted is the State of Arkansas giving grants totaling $1 million to its counties, to be used only for larviciding and public information programs. This major commitment to non-toxic mosquito control was not mentioned in the national media, only in the Arkansas local newspapers. (Aug. 02)

Washington D.C. is among the examples of jurisdictions avoiding the spraying of adulticides. Spraying was called inappropriate by D.C. officials based on health concerns for residents with asthma. The announcement was made the same day that a human case of West Nile virus was confirmed. Instead, the city is accelerating its larviciding program and encouraging residents to use mosquito dunks and to get rid of standing water. (Washington Post - Aug. 02)

The jurisdictions adopting non-toxic methods usually mention their concern for the groups more sensitive to the pesticides, the elderly, children, those with asthma and with cancer taking immuno-suppressing drugs.

Comprehensive Studies - Groups that have recently prepared comprehensive studies of mosquito control are helping to fill the information gap, but publicity for those studies has been minimal. Thus, our purpose is to report on this updated material for the benefit of our environmentally sensitive area, bordering the Md. Coastal Bays, and for its residents.

These studies present information in two ways.

First, there is the approach of emphasizing the non-toxic methods of mosquito control. Some studies focus on encouraging the use of a number of techniques such as removing standing water, larviciding, disposal of old tires, open water marsh management, encouraging natural predators and several other steps within the realm of non-toxic controls. These methods are called prevention, since the efforts are directed against the larval stages, before they become flying, biting adult mosquitoes. Details are presented of “how-to-do” the non-toxic steps. Criticism of adulticiding is also discussed and the final recommendations are to adopt non-toxic methods.

The second approach analyzes the toxicity of products being sprayed with an “in depth” review. These studies examine the toxicity records including evidence of sickness, scientific publications, lab reviews, fish kills, chemical sickness, hospitalization records, diseases from chemical exposures, toxicology studies, and other technical and medical sources of information. These studies have recommended avoiding adulticides because of their toxicity and health hazards, and to adopt the non-toxic alternatives.

Studies of both types are shown in the update report. Three are highlighted below.

Stopping Mosquitoes Safely, a study from Bio-Integral Resource Center (BIRC) presented information on larval control of mosquitoes, breeding sites around the home needing attention, natural pools, swamps and marshes, fish to consume mosquito larvae, Bti and other non-toxic steps. When analyzing adulticiding, the report concluded: “Area-wide spraying for adult mosquitoes represents a technology that has failed.”

Public Health Mosquito Management Strategy, a study from Beyond Pesticides-National Coalition Against Misuse of Pesticides (NCAMP) discussed strategies such as eliminating breeding sites at home and on public land, public awareness campaigns encouraging prevention methods, fish to eat mosquito larvae, and larviciding. The report made several comments regarding adulticides: Dangerous to public health and the environment, Do not conduct aerial spraying of adulticides.

Three-state report, (Maine, Mass. Conn.) Overkill: Why Pesticide Spraying for West Nile Virus May Cause More Harm Than Good. This report is a detailed analysis of the hazards of mosquito pesticides used in the 3 states, showing their health and disease hazards to people and the environment. Impacts were found on the immune system and increasing the risks of encephalitis. Even small exposures to these pesticides can cause problems. Criticisms are made that adulticide spraying is ineffective. Large amounts of spray misses the mosquitoes, and thousands of droplets are left to contaminate the environment. The study concludes that the focus should be on immature mosquitoes, the larvae, and that adulticides should not be used.

A variety of other groups have criticized adulticiding in the US and in Canada, as shown in the report. A number of medical professionals are opposing adulticiding, and have spoken out, sent letters, participated in studies, and signed petitions. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in 2001, recognized that adulticide spraying is the least efficient method, and that prevention steps directed at the mosquito larvae are more effective.

Toxicity Details - The toxicities of mosquito control products are discussed including how toxicity is measured. The toxicities and health problems of Naled and Permethrin are listed. Those are the adulticides used in Md. for mosquito control. The close relationship of Naled to Sarin nerve gas is discussed. Naled is a chemical cousin of Sarin nerve gas. Both are chemicals in the organophosphate group.

Details of the harmful effects of mosquito adulticides on people are presented, and there are examples of harm to fish and crabs. Of course, we are sympathetic to all of the victims of West Nile Virus and wish that their suffering had not occurred. But there is a need to do mosquito control in the right way to avoid undesirable, toxic side-effects.

Medical professionals, professors and scientists are warning of the hazardous effects of adulticiding. Of greatest concern are impacts on the immune system and the risks of encephalitis.

Improper Practices - Investigative reports have shown that improper practices have included violations of pesticide regulations and mistakes which have resulted in public exposures. Several New York examples are given. An example of mistakes in Md. showed that when larviciding was missed, a quantity of mosquitoes were hatched and extensive aerial spraying was done. If a back-up plan had been used for larviciding when the aircraft was broken down, the widespread adulticiding of 60,000 acres may have been avoided. Also, aircraft breakdowns caused Md. to miss or delay larviciding on several prior occasions.

Additional improper practices are routine and widespread spraying, which were criticized by many sources in the survey. It has been found that routine and widespread spraying can lead to more mosquitoes in the long-term. This result occurs since the mosquito’s natural predators are killed by the sprays, and do not reproduce as rapidly, leaving more favorable conditions for mosquitoes to increase their numbers.

An example of this produced a 15-fold increase in mosquitoes at Cicero swamp in NY State, after an 11-year period of routine spraying. One report stated “Putting too much faith in mosquito adulticides may have contributed to the West Nile outbreaks in New York. For years, aerial spray in the swamps was the only control measure.”

Recommendation - From the scientific and medical sources referred to herein, there can be no doubt that the mosquito pesticides are quite toxic and very capable of harming people and the environment. These facts should give pause and deliberation.

The sources herein indicate that spraying is not automatically the answer to mosquito presence or to West Nile virus threats. Emphasizing and implementing the non-toxic measures is a viable answer. That’s exactly what Washington D.C. did when faced with a human case of West Nile virus (Aug ’02).

We urge Worcester County, Md. to continue avoiding aerial spraying of toxic adulticides over residential areas. And we recommend that local towns and communities emphasize non-toxic alternatives as discussed in this report.

III – Non-toxic Alternatives

III-a. Towns, Counties and States avoiding adulticide spraying:

The following listing shows a number of jurisdictions which have publicized, during the last two years, their avoidance or restriction of adulticiding for mosquito control.

These examples illustrate the use of non-toxic alternatives for mosquito control.

1) Adams County and City of Natchez, , Mississippi The Natchez Democrat 8/24/02 “The best way to curb the mosquito population - and thus, the spread of West Nile virus - is to kill the insects while they're still young, say many mosquito control experts.” County employees will use Agnique MMF spreading a thin film in breeding areas which drowns the mosquito larvae and pupae.

2) Arkansas—five examples (75 counties in total) Ashley County, Ashley County Ledger 8/28/02

3) “ Arkansas County and several municipalities DeWitt Era-Enterprise 8/16/02

4) “ Garland County and Hot Springs, Ark. The Sentinel-Record 8/16/02

5) “ Sebastian County, Times Record 8/26/02

6) “ Crawford County Times Record 8/26/02

Funding of $1 million from the Governor’s discretionary fund, limited to use only for larviciding and public education (standing-water information). Grants will be distributed by the Arkansas Dept. of Health to the counties and municipalities.

“Ann Wright, director of communications for the Arkansas Department of Health, said all 75 counties in the state made application for the money, which will be divided based upon county population and geographic size.”

7) Arlington County, Virginia Govt. News Release 9/13/02 County maintains an aggressive mosquito monitoring and larviciding program and is urging residents to eliminate mosquito breeding areas around their homes.

“At this point, it is the consensus of the Virginia Department of Health and of other mosquito experts that spraying [adulticides] would not be effective in controlling the mosquito species that carry West Nile virus in this area,” said Dr. Susan Allan, public health director for Arlington.

The County has two probable and one suspected human cases of West Nile Virus, 51 dead birds and 13 mosquito pools test positive for WNV so far this year, but has not adopted the spraying of adulticides.

8) Bibb County and Macon, Georgia Macon Telegraph 6/6/02, 6/12/02 Ended adulticiding at the recommendation of the Health Dept, and adopted larvicide bricks for mosquito control and increased public education and awareness.

9) Bristol-Burlington Health District, Connecticut – Release 8/5/02 The state is not spraying adulticides. Three towns have had positive mosquito pools, and 12 towns have had birds testing positive for West Nile Virus but Connecticut has not moved to adulticiding. Recommending the clearing of standing water, and for areas where the water cannot be eliminated, the use of “Mosquito Dunks”

10) Clifton Park, NY Community website 2002- The Town chose BTI as an alternative to mosquito adulticide spraying, and is currently offering free BTI dunks to all residents.

11) Cowley, Kansas Topeka Capital-Journal 8/9/02 Tom Janousek, West Nile virus coordinator for the Kansas Dept of Health and Environment said spraying would be an inefficient way to control the virus. "It would have to be an extreme situation similar to Louisiana before we consider it," Janousek said. Five people have died in Louisiana this year from the illness. This statement was released after officials confirmed that a dead horse in south-central Kansas, Cowley County, became the state’s first case of West Nile Virus.

12) Fort Worth, and Tarrant County, Texas Health Dept. Release 08/20/02 Fort Worth discontinued its spraying program in 1991. Several reasons were discussed, criticizing the adulticide spraying. Summarizing:

i) Spraying adulticides is ineffective as many mosquitoes are not hit, hiding in bushes, trees etc. and larvae will continue to thrive, soon producing more adults.

ii) Adding harmful chemicals to the environment can have unwanted effects to both air and water.

iii) Thousands of Fort Worth residents with respiratory problems such as asthma would be in danger. Asthma and allergies are two of the top five health problems for Fort Worth residents. The potential inhalation hazard to the general population does not seem worth the risk of killing a few mosquitoes.

13) Highland Village, Texas City website July 2002 The city is using Bti donuts targeting mosquito larvae, and is recommending that residents clear standing water, and also use the Bti dunks. The City’s program is based on CDC recommendations that source reduction and larviciding are more effective methods, and that adulticiding is the least efficient method of mosquito control.

14) Lapeer County, Michigan Michigan Environmental Report-August 2002 On August 6, a coalition of Lapeer County environmentalists, organic farmers and concerned citizens overwhelmingly turned back a ballot proposal for a tax-funded mosquito control program by a margin of four to one. As the citizens of Lapeer discovered, spraying may be the problem, not the solution.

i) There is growing evidence the chemical-based approach is not only ineffective but may exacerbate the problem. Evidence suggests that mosquito spraying actually increases infection rates in the birds that carry West Nile virus by compromising their immune response, making them more susceptible to infection.

ii) There is mounting public concern that pesticides may be harming children's health.

iii) A study by Oliver Howard reported in Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association in 1997 found that after 11 years of aerial organophosphate insecticide [Naled] applications on a swamp habitat in central New York, populations of the mosquito primary vector of Eastern Equine Encephalitis actually increased 15-fold.

iv) The environmental community needs to play a larger role in guiding existing programs away from chemical-based efforts to more earth-friendly, people-friendly approaches.

15) Lakewood and Chagrin Falls, Ohio Cleveland Free Times 8/21-27/02 Two City Councils voted not to spray adulticides. Aggressive larvicide strategies, source reduction and mass public education are the most effective and most responsible method to ensure public health. Spraying adulticides would not be considered unless there is clear evidence of human WNV infection.

16) Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Tenn. City’s website- Headlines 9/9/02 The city does not spray adulticides. University of Tennessee advised such a program is ineffective and more cost prohibitive than other, more effective, options such as public education and providing larvicides for areas where standing water is a problem.
Spraying adulticides can adversely affect the health of those with breathing problems, and small children. Spraying also does not kill the larvae from which mosquitoes develop.

17) Moreau, Northumberland and Wilton, NY (Saratoga County) Times-Union 4/24/02 The three towns have switched to Mosquito dunks and stopped their adulticide spraying programs. Moreau dropped adulticide spraying after a softball field was accidentally sprayed in June 2001, sending 37 people to the hospital for treatment of dizziness and nausea. "Spraying is really a short-term type of thing,'' said Wilton Councilman Larry Gordon. "It doesn't diminish the overall populations as dunks do.

18) Rockland County, NY The Journal News 6/11/02 The county is using two larvicide pellet products dropped by helicopter on the marshy areas, along with a larvicide put in Rockland catch basins, to avoid the need for spraying of adulticides. The same control policy was used in the summer of 2001, and officials were able to avoid spraying. .

19) Riverdale Park, MD Mayor and Council Legislative Session - Minutes of November 3, 2001 The old spraying [adulticide] program was discontinued 6 -7 years ago. It's the least efficient way to deal with mosquitoes and doesn't work well for Asian tiger mosquitoes which are a big problem here. Now we kill the larvae where they breed and educate the public about container breeding mosquitoes and what they need to do. .

20) University of Md., and College Park Md. The Diamondback 9/13/02 Both the city of College Park and the university are opposed to adulticide spraying because of its ineffectiveness at controlling the mosquito population. Efforts are directed at eradicating mosquito larvae rather than adult mosquitoes.

i) The city is distributing mosquito "dunks" that kill mosquito larvae in standing water, such as bird baths and ponds. The city is also utilizing larvicide in notoriously wet areas. Code enforcement officers are inspecting properties to find areas of standing water, which are breeding grounds for mosquitoes. A mosquito needs less than an inch of water to reproduce.

ii) The university is taking a similar approach. Janet Peterson, the university's biological safety officer, said workers applied larvicide in wet areas and ponds four times during the summer.

21) University Park, MD The Gazette 9/26/02 The Town Council voted against adulticide spraying. Homeowners were objecting to the spraying. One resident, Douglas Gill - an ecologist and board member of the Audubon Society, spoke against the spraying of chemicals as a way to reduce the mosquito population.

"It's an expensive, ineffective measure for eliminating mosquitoes," he said. "There's lots and lots of alternatives," he said. "There are many other systems which are much more effective than spraying and don't have the health risks associated with spraying. Cleaning out standing water, such as birdbaths and gutters on a regular basis, is a more effective measure,” he said. Residents can also rear mosquito fish that will eat mosquito larvae.

22) University of Notre Dame, Indiana The Observer 9/5/02 9/9/02 The University is not using adulticide spraying. Several dead crows and blue jays have raised concern about the possibility of West Nile virus at Notre Dame. Another concern is the confirmation of a human case of West Nile virus nearby in St. Joseph's County. However, "We're not going to see an aerial spray program," said biology professor Paul Grimstad, who has been researching mosquito-borne viral diseases that cause brain inflammation since 1974. "That's the least effective way to control this.

23) Washington D.C., First Case of W. Nile Diagnosed Here, Washington Post, 8/8/02 D.C. officials will not be spraying adulticides, saying such pesticide spraying is inappropriate because of the area’s many asthma patients. The announcement was made the same day that a human case of West Nile was confirmed, and mosquito pools tested positive for West Nile from 40 locations throughout Washington. The city will accelerate its program of larviciding, placing tablets in more than 4,200 catch basins and pools of standing water. Also, residents are encouraged to get rid of standing water, and to buy tablets [mosquito dunks] at hardware stores and put them in breeding areas such as garden ponds and birdbaths.

Restrictions on adulticide spraying

24) Auburn University, University News, 8/22/02 Auburn hopes to thwart much of the mosquito problem by destroying the larva in standing water. “Adult control measures are generally the most expensive and least effective means of mosquito control, and would be employed only as a last resort,” said Charles Ray, director of AU's Safety and Environmental Health Services. Limited spraying or fogging for adult mosquitoes would be performed with "surgical precision", if determined necessary.

25) Cookville, Tenn., Herald-Citizen, 9/20/02 The City of Cookville hasn’t conducted wide-spread adulticide spraying along the city’s streets for about 10 years. Spraying with back-pack units can be performed around homes and shrubbery when call-ins occur, along with yard inspections for any standing water where mosquitoes might breed. Mosquito larvae are controlled by placing chemical brickettes in standing water, and the city offers these brickettes without charge.

26) Montgomery County, MD Gazette.Net, 9/25/02 County health officials have decided against widespread spraying of neighborhoods to combat the mosquito-borne West Nile virus, saying such an effort would be ineffective. As an alternative to spraying, officials said the key to preventing the virus's spread is monitoring stagnant ponds and preventing the formation of standing pools of water, such as in birdbaths, old tires and other environments where mosquitoes breed. Montgomery County has a website containing many tips for homeowners. http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mc/services/dep/Mosquito/control.htm

Sample from Website:

dripefx.GIF (15757 bytes)

Fix dripping faucets and eliminate puddles around faucets, downspouts,
and air conditioning systems.

III-b. Other Maryland Non-toxic Examples:

In addition to the above list of 26 Towns, Counties and States which have recently publicized their non-toxic policies of avoiding adulticides, there were many examples in the Sept. 2000 report. Three prior examples of local interest are listed below (in addition to those above Riverdale Park, Md., University of Maryland, College Park, Md., Montgomery County, Md. and nearby D.C. and Arlington County, Va.)

In Anne Arundel County, Md., 47 communities have signed up for larvae control only, and no fogging for adult mosquitoes. The City of Annapolis and West Annapolis are included. (27)

At Sharpsburg, Md. the C&O Canal Historic Park stopped adulticiding in 1980, and relies upon Bti larviciding and clean-ups of breeding sites. (28)

Worcester County, Md. in May ‘99 adopted the policy of no aerial adulticiding except in case of a health emergency, confirmed by Maryland’s Health Dept. Also, the County in May ’98 increased its funding for larviciding, providing coverage for areas beyond the boundaries of communities and towns participating in Md’s. cost-sharing mosquito control program. These policies were adopted after residents presented information on the toxicity of Naled (Dibrom), previously used for aerial adulticiding in the area. Naled (Dibrom) is rated as Class 1, the highest chemical toxicity, and aerial spraying produces the most saturation of an area. Both actions have benefited the people and the aquatic environment of the Coastal Bays area.

In Ocean Pines, Md. the community association buys Mosquito Dunks in bulk, for resale to residents at cost. The community encourages residents to maintain Purple Martin bird-houses.

Sources -Towns, Counties and States avoiding adulticide spraying:

1. http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/NF/omf/nddaily/news_story.html?[rkey=0015213+ssiuname=WebOSTTN+ssipwd=TTN932A224B Adams county spraying [larviciding] to kill young insects

2. http://www.ashleycountyledger.com/display/inn_news/H16g703.txt County, Cities to Apply for $75,000 in West Nile Virus Mosquito Funds

3. http://www.dewitt-ee.com/display/inn_news/news1.txt County, cities seek $61,000 for mosquito relief [Arkansas County]

4. http://www.hotsr.com/archive/2002/aug/0816.html Garland County Wants Funds for Mosquito Control

5. http://www.swtimes.com/archive/2002/August/26/news/west_nile.html Counties to Receive West Nile Money [Sebastian

6. and Crawford Counties]

7. http://www.co.arlington.va.us/NewsReleases/Scripts/ViewDetail.asp?Index=883 ARLINGTON RECORDS PROBABLE, SUSPECTED HUMAN CASES OF WEST NILE VIRUS

8. http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/archives/ June 12, 2002, BIBB DROPS MALATHION SPRAYING

9. http://www.ci.bristol.ct.us/BBHealth/westnile.htm August 5, 2002 Release

10. http://www.cliftonpark.org/ecommunity/enspec/mdunks.htm#Information Community website

11. http://www.cjonline.com/stories/080902/kan_virus.shtml Kansas reports first case of virus

12. http://www.fortworthgov.org/health/HP/Mosquito_Spray2002.asp Why Fort Worth has not sprayed for mosquitoes

13. http://www.highlandvillage.org/CONTENTS/The_West_Nile_Virus_and_Mosquito_Control.htm Website - City of Highland Village

14. http://www.mecprotects.org/MER/AUG02/lapeer.html Lapeer County voters defeat chemical approach to mosquito control

15. http://www.freetimes.com/issues/1049/upfront-letters.php WEST NILE FACTS AND FIGURES

16. http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:prhiwpYi-pQC:www.ci.murfreesboro.tn.us/headline_news.htm+West-Nile+spraying+ineffective&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 West Nile proliferating but rarely contracted or fatal

17. http://www.timesunion.com/aspstories/storyprint.asp?storyKey=81542 Mosquito battles heat up

18. http://www.thejournalnews.com/newsroom/061102/11larvicide.html Copters to drop mosquito larvicide

19. http://www.ci.riverdale-park.md.us/News/CouncilMinutes/CouncilMinutes2001/c20011105.html Mayor and Council Session Minutes

20. http://www.inform.umd.edu/News/Diamondback/archives/2002/09/13/news7.html City, university take action to stop spread of West Nile Virus

21. http://www.gazette.net/200239/collegepark/news/123252-1.html Mosquitoes will not be sprayed

22. http://www.nd.edu/~observer/09092002/News/1.html http://www.nd.edu/~prinfo/news/2002/9-5a.html West Nile Suspected in Area

23. Washington Post, Aug 8, 2002, First Case of W. Nile Diagnosed Here

24. http://www.auburn.edu/administration/univrel/news/archive/08_02news/08_02mosquitoes.html AU Steps Up Mosquito Control

25. http://www.herald-citizen.com/NF/omf.wnm/herald/news_story.html?[rkey=0022988+[cr=gdn Council backs away from mosquito spraying

26. http://www.gazette.net/200239/montgomerycty/county/122752-1.html No spraying for West Nile

27. www.mda.state.md.us/mosquito/aasch.htm

28. NCAMP – Less-toxic Controls Booklet

III-c. Studies Promoting Non-toxic Alternatives (i.e. Prevention Methods)

There are a variety of public interest groups which have supported non-toxic mosquito control alternatives. Virtually all of these groups agree that emphasis should be given to the prevention methods, which are the non-toxic methods. Examples:

Removal of standing water,

Back-yard inspections and clean-ups,

Disposal of old tires, or drilling holes allowing water to drain,

Larvicides such as Mosquito Dunks for areas where water cannot be drained,

Filters & pumps for water gardens plus chlorination for swimming & wading pools,

Fish to consume mosquito larvae in ponds,

Open marsh water management,

Preserving the natural predators of mosquitoes – dragonflies, wasps, bats, birds, amphibians, etc.

by avoiding adulticides,

Birds and bats (maintaining houses) to help control mosquitoes and other flying pests

Thoroughness of larviciding,

Restrictions and avoiding use of adulticides.

Public education programs, to promote residents to participate in these activities.

These practices are the backbone of non-toxic mosquito control programs, and are discussed in detail in the Sept 2000 report: Survey of Mosquito Control Practices and Non-toxic Alternatives, available on the website:

http://skipper.physics.sunysb.edu/mosquito/

Two comprehensive studies have extensively analyzed the non-toxic methods, and have urged the avoidance of routine or widespread adulticiding. Summarizing:

1. Stopping Mosquitoes Safely (Spring 2001) from Bio-integral Resource Center, Dr. William Quarles and

Dr. William Olkowski, Copies available-$8, phone (510) 524-2567

Strongly urges adoption of various prevention methods with detailed discussion:

a. Mapping breeding sites – ponds, swamps marshes storm-water catch basins - for larviciding,

b. Clearing water from flat roofs, gutters, flower-pot saucers, containers, etc.

c. Re-grading low areas, maintaining ditches for proper drainage.

d. For tree-hole cavities, drilling drainage holes or filling with sand,

e. Various fish species are discussed – goldfish, guppies, which consume mosquito larvae.

Regarding adulticides, this study indicated the following problems:

f. Mosquito resistance occurs after routine sprayings, resulting in increased mosquito populations.

g. Without prevention actions for larval control and source reduction, the effects of adulticiding only last for a few days before additional mosquitoes return.

h. Adulticiding is not effective as many mosquitoes are not directly hit by the spray.

i. For AERIAL SPRAYS, the mosquitoes are often missed in areas with dense foliage.

j. In some cases, dosages in excess of the pesticide labels were used, a cause for further concern.

k. Putting too much faith in mosquito adulticides may have contributed to the West Nile outbreaks in New York. They had become lax in source reduction and larval control and were relying more on adulticiding. Routine adulticiding with Naled (Dibrom) over a marshy region resulted in a 15-fold increase in mosquitoes over an 11-year period.

l. “Area-wide spraying for adult mosquitoes represents a TECHNOLOGY THAT HAS FAILED.” That’s the conclusion of the study.

2. Public Health Mosquito Management Strategy (Spring 2002) a comprehensive report from Beyond Pesticides/NCAMP, Washington D.C. (NCAMP staff and more than 30 colleagues) http://www.beyondpesticides.org/main.html

Supports and recommends the prevention methods, and discusses:

a. Eliminating breeding sites at home, and on public lands,

b. Fish species which eat mosquito larvae,

c. Larviciding,

d. Public Awareness Campaigns,

The report states that adulticides have various problems:

e. Adulticides are dangerous to public health and the environment,

f. Adulticide spraying is ineffective. It increases mosquitoes, because their natural predators are destroyed, and resistance develops.

g. Adulticiding becomes UNNECESSARY when prevention steps are PROPERLY FOLLOWED. But the report lists precautions to be followed if some jurisdictions still use adulticiding despite the dangers:

1. Use adulticides ONLY AS A LAST RESORT. The report restates the CDC view that adulticiding should only be used when prevention methods have failed.

2. Choose the less dangerous products among the adulticides.

3. Limit spraying to the times of mosquito activity and the areas with numbers of mosquitoes present.

4. Adhere to limitations of wind, temperature, moisture, proper dosage amounts, and other label restrictions such as avoiding the required no-spray zones adjacent to waterways.

5. DO NOT CONDUCT AERIAL SPRAYING of adulticides.

Profiles of the above groups:

Bio-integral Resource Center (BI RC) is a non-profit corporation formed in 1979. For 23 years BIRC has provided studies of effective solutions to a variety of pest problems, in the US, and throughout the world. Its staff researchers and an international network of advisors and research associates have published hundreds of studies for solving specific pest problems, designed to be the least disruptive to human health and the environment. These studies have gained favor with government, pest management professionals, community groups and businesses. BIRC publishes The IPM Practitioner, and the Common Sense Pest Control Quarterly. Its website provides further information, and lists its published studies currently available. http://www.birc.org/

Beyond Pesticides/National Coalition Against Misuse of Pesticides (NCAMP) is a non-profit organization formed in 1981. For 21 years NCAMP has provided the public with information on pesticides and their alternatives. The organization takes a dual approach by identifying the risks of conventional pest management practices and promoting non-chemical and least toxic management alternatives. NCAMP publishes its Technical Bulletin monthly and Pesticides and You quarterly. Its website provides further information and lists its published studies currently available. http://www.beyondpesticides.org/main.html

NCAMP officials have testified and provided technical expertise in recent New York court cases concerning mosquito control pesticides.

III-d. CDC calls prevention steps “most effective”; adulticiding “least efficient”

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) within its guidelines for control of West Nile Virus has recognized that larval source reduction, removing breeding sites and larviciding are the most effective controls. The study recognizes such larval source reduction steps as the proper disposal of used tires, cleaning of rain gutters, birdbaths and draining unused swimming pools by property owners, as well as water management projects.

Larviciding is recognized as more effective and target-specific than adulticiding. Adulticide spraying is the least efficient mosquito control technique. The preventive measures such as removing breeding areas are much more efficient in eliminating mosquito threats. Community outreach and public education are also important.

www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/resources/wnv-guidelines-apr-2001.pdf

III-e. Other groups promoting non-toxic alternatives

These groups are strongly supporting prevention measures in the same ways listed above, and they have criticized adulticiding:

Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides, (NCAP) Managing Mosquitoes Without Poisons,

Community Mosquito Control http://www.pesticide.org/factsheets.html

Illustration from NCAP: Old tires, cans, bottles, puddles, tire ruts, standing water in drainage ditches;

These are examples of likely breeding sites for mosquito larvae

Audubon Society Magazine: Out of Control – mosquito chemical warfare

http://magazine.audubon.org/incite/incite0109.html

American Bird Conservancy: West Nile Virus – Position Statement

http://www.abcbirds.org/pesticides/west_nile_position_statement.htm

Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Mosquito Spray Threatens Bay

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=2334904&BRD=2101&PAG=461&dept_id=417987&rfi=8

Massachusetts Audubon: Position Paper - Opposes the use of aerial spraying.

http://www.orgsites.com/ma/npac/audubon.htm

Massachusetts Environmental Policy Institute: Overkill: Why Pesticide Spraying for West Nile Virus May Cause More Harm Than Good www.meepi.org/wnv/overkillma.htm

A few media reports were found which questioned adulticiding and favored removal of standing water:

ABC News.com, Aug. 8, 02 published a report: Useless Spraying? The report quoted Dr. Julia Gerberding, director of the CDC: “Just do an inspection and see what’s out there that might serve as a breeding ground for mosquitoes.” Since adult mosquitoes only live for about two weeks at the most – whether they are sprayed or not – the most effective way to limit mosquitoes is to empty pools of water where they lay their eggs.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 8/8/02 published an article titled: Spraying Does Harm But Not To Mosquitoes. The article stated that: “the least safe and effective measure is spraying poison adulticides.” Their conclusion was: “There’s only one safe, sensible way - use repellents - then deprive mosquitoes of man-made habitat such as old tires, cans, clogged rain gutters, places where standing water collects.”

IV - Toxicity

IV-a. Professors, Doctors and Scientists Against Spraying

Who are the opponents speaking out against spraying the toxic adulticides? Are they all activists? NO!

Opponents to spraying adulticides include scientists, university professors, and medical doctors.

While voices in opposition to the spraying include many activists and environmentalists, there are hundreds of medical professionals that oppose the spraying. As an example, the group Connecticut S.A.F.E. (Seeking Alternatives for the Environment) has collected a petition signed by more than 90 doctors and medical professionals in the Stanford, Conn., area opposed to the spraying. Their petition begins with the following text:

“We, the undersigned, as medical professionals, believe that the spraying of pesticides for West Nile Virus poses a significant health hazard to humans both in an immediate and long-term basis. We call for an immediate halt to any widespread spraying of pesticides to handle the concern of WNV. http://www.safe2use.com/ca-ipm/00-08-15-update.htm

The media has often refused to fully cover those opposing, preferring to use sound bites from uninformed residents or comments from the mosquito spraying personnel who seem wedded to their old spraying practices, no matter who differs or expresses concerns.

When one takes the effort to look, (beyond the TV media, sound bites, and headlines) we find as reported in this update-survey that many health professionals and scientific authorities are speaking out. These authorities are clearly expressing warnings; they are recognizing the toxicity of the spray products, and are urging that non-toxic alternatives should be adopted and publicized.

The American Academy of Family Physicians in its Sept 2002 report stated that spraying is the least effective means of controlling West Nile virus, for a number of reasons. It's expensive, it kills beneficial insects, it's ineffective in wooded and foliated areas, and even if spraying kills adults, new mosquitoes will emerge within days. Dr. Kathleen Toomey, M.D., M.P.H., director of the Georgia Division of Public Health said: "Education is our best approach. Physicians can lobby to have public areas kept free of standing water, where the mosquitoes breed. One's own property shouldn't be overlooked either,” she says. http://www.aafp.org/fpr/20020900/2.html

Universities are on record for their opposition to adulticide sprayings: Auburn, Notre Dame, University of Maryland, and University of Tennessee (listed earlier)

Scientists who have recently published studies expressing the hazards of adulticides include:

William C. Sugg III, MS-Environmental Science, Maine Environmental Policy Institute, Three-state report, Maine, Mass. Conn. Overkill: Why Pesticide Spraying for West Nile Virus May Cause More Harm Than Good

Caroline Cox, MS-Entomology, Journal of Pesticide Reform, Naled–Pesticide Factsheet, Permethrin- Pesticide Factsheet, Pesticide Drift (from Aerial Applications)

Dr. Wayne Sinclair, MD and Richard Pressinger – M.Ed., Chem-tox, Public Health Toxicology Website, Are Mosquito Spray Pesticides Worsening The Encephalitis Problem,? Paradox is Reason for Concern

Dr. William Quarles, PhD. and Dr. William Olkowski, PhD. Bio-Integral Resource Center (BIRC), Stopping Mosquitoes Safely, Larval Control of Mosquitoes, Sprays for Adult Mosquitoes-A Failed Technology (reported earlier)

Individual professors expressing criticisms and cautions:

Dr. M. Dennis Goode – University of Maryland, Dept. of Biology

Dr. David Pimentel – Cornell University, Entomology

Dr. Sheldon Krimsky -- Tufts University, School of Medicine,

Dr. Julian Kane -- New College, Hofstra University

Dr. Richard Levins -- Harvard, School of Public Health,

Dr. David Ozonoff -- Boston University, School of Public Health

Dr. Allen West – Laurence University, Professor of Chemistry Emeritus

and others

Report covering 3 States, Maine, Massachusetts, and Connecticut:

Overkill: Why Pesticide Spraying for West Nile Virus May Cause More Harm Than Good

May, July, August, 2001

These three states are covered in an extensive study, initially prepared by the Maine Environmental Policy Institute. The principal author is William C. Sugg III, (and more than 20 colleagues) with information added and adapted concerning the situations specific to Massachusetts and to Connecticut.

Web references:

Massachusetts, http://www.meepi.org/wnv/overkillma.htm, (includes executive summary)

Connecticut, http://www.meepi.org/wnv/overkillct.htm

Maine – http://www.meepi.org/wnv/wnv.htm

The report contains extensive discussions of the practices used in pesticide spraying, the toxicities of the products used or proposed for use in those three states, and the side-effects on people and the environment. The report concludes with steps that homeowners can use, (non-toxic prevention steps).

All three states recommended the following community guidelines for safe control:

Ø Technicians doing house-to-house inspections for potential mosquito breeding sites, informational hand-outs and discussions.

Ø Public health education is a good investment and will pay off better than quick-fix chemical sprays.

Ø Do not use "adulticides,"

Ø Focus on controlling mosquitoes in their immature forms: eggs, larvae, or pupae.

The reports for Massachusetts and Connecticut have included another recommendation to the community guidelines for safe control:

Ø Stop pesticide spraying for “nuisance mosquitoes”

The following topics were discussed in the Three-state report, and by other scientists, as noted.

Small Exposures to Pesticides, Low Doses Causing Health Problems

A common argument offered by mosquito control officials will be to assure everyone that the levels of chemicals sprayed will be so low that there will be no effect on the environment and human health. This is not true for two reasons. First, many of these chemicals have significant negative health and environmental effects at extremely low levels. Secondly, they are never consistently applied as planned. There will always be some mistakes and excessive spraying.

A study conducted by the Department of Environmental Toxicology at Uppsala University in Sweden studying mice found that "low-dose exposure" to pyrethroids "resulted in irreversible changes in adult brain function

(Three-state report)

Exposure to Naled that occurs at low doses, whether by breathing, or skin exposure, is an inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, (indicating toxicity to the nervous system.) Also, California researchers found that small droplets of Naled (the size produced by ultra low volume sprayers used in mosquito spraying) were about four times more acutely toxic than larger droplets. JOURNAL OF PESTICIDE REFORM/ FALL 2002 VOL. 22, NO. 3, Caroline Cox http://www.pesticide.org/naled.pdf

Single exposure hazard- Pesticide spraying against mosquitoes for the West Nile Virus threat would have many serious detrimental consequences, especially on human health. The health impact of the spraying may affect not only those living in the area but visitors. It has been recognized that even a single exposure can trigger manifestation of clinical symptoms in predisposed individuals.

http://www.cap-quebec.com/pdf/wnv_19th_august_02.pdf

"Chemical Exposures Low Levels and High Stakes", Ashford and Miller ’91

Impairing the Immune System

The organophosphate and pyrethroid sprays, as well as the synergist, piperonyl butoxide, have been shown to impair the immune systems. Impurities and by-products present in malathion have further disrupted immune system function.

Immunosuppression can increase susceptibility to a variety of bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections and

possible increased tumor formation (Three-state report)

Increased Risks of West Nile Encephalitis from Sprays

The Immunity Paradox

Ironically, use of adulticide sprays for West Nile mosquito control could actually end up suppressing human and avian immune systems in the areas sprayed, resulting in greater risk of contracting or becoming seriously ill from West Nile virus. (Three-state report)

Encephalitis is mainly a risk to individuals who currently have a weak functioning immune system. This can include the elderly, sick and very young. However, a paradox arises since the use of many pesticides have shown the side-effect of weakening the human immune system. Since our immune system defends us from contracting encephalitis after being bitten by an encephalitis-carrying mosquito, the use of pesticide sprays can potentially create further risks of encephalitis by creating greater numbers of people whose immune systems are impaired below the threshold necessary to protect against encephalitis. In other words, the spraying intended to protect sensitive groups of people can increase the potential for encephalitis, making matters worse.

http://www.chem-tox.com/malathion/ Dr. Wayne Sinclair, MD, Richard Pressinger, M.Ed

Same Immunity Warning from Canada:

Stop the Indiscriminate Spraying of “Friendly Fire” Pesticides.

In Quebec, 26 doctors and scientists have signed a report expressing opposition to mosquito spraying, and analyzing the health problems. This study concludes that adulticide spraying is like the battlefield terminology of “friendly fire” - killing one’s own friends while intending to shoot an enemy.

“There is a widely accepted erroneous belief that mass spraying of adulticides protects the

population against mosquitoes. In fact, the opposite is true: the mass spraying will result

in a deterioration of public health by exposing millions of people to “friendly fire”

pesticides. Ironically, such spraying is especially dangerous to those with impaired immunity for whose “protection” such spraying is mainly being done.”

http://www.cap-quebec.com/pdf/wnv_19th_august_02.pdf

Insecticide risks to the brain-blood barrier

Dr Dennis Goode, Department of Biology, University of Maryland, says West Nile Virus, in general, is a mild disease unless it crosses the blood-brain barrier. He warns that pesticides (mosquito adulticides) can damage the blood-brain barrier making entry of WNV more possible. Among the agents that impair the blood-brain barrier in tests on young rats are pyrethroid, organophosphate, and organochlorine pesticides. He concludes that insecticide spraying for mosquitoes has the potential to worsen the process of WNV infection. http://www.safe2use.com/ca-ipm/01-07-13.htm

Encephalitis risks in mosquitoes

Adulticide chemicals may be putting mosquitoes that are sprayed, but not killed, into an immuno-

compromised state, thereby allowing them to accumulate and spread more West Nile virus than healthy mosquitoes. Pesticide researcher Richard Pressinger has theorized that the chemicals cause subtle genetic damage in the mosquito population, increasing the number of mosquitoes with genetic flaws which could, in theory, allow the encephalitis virus to take hold and grow more rapidly. (Three-state report)

Spraying is Ineffective

Much spray does not reach its intended target, the mosquitoes. Dr. David Pimentel , professor of entomology at Cornell University and a longtime pesticide researcher said, “I doubt that more than one-tenth of 1 percent of the poison is actually hitting its target. And you have to put out a lot of material to get that one-tenth of a percent onto the mosquito." Thus for every droplet that reaches a mosquito, thousands more droplets circulate pointlessly in the environment.

This question seems the most important. If the efficacy of spraying approaches zero, what's the point of exposing our bodies, ecosystems, and wildlife to toxic chemicals in the first place? (Three-state report)

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) within its guidelines for control of West Nile Virus has recognized that adulticide spraying is the least efficient mosquito control technique (as discussed earlier.)

IV-b. The pesticides connection to Nerve Gas

Both Sarin nerve gas and many pesticides are Organophosphate chemicals invented by the German firm,

IG Farben.

At a meeting in Berlin, Md. (October 22, 2002) a citizen made a remark regarding the toxicity of one mosquito pesticide, Naled, saying it is closely related to Sarin nerve gas. An official from Md.’s Mosquito Control took offense to that idea, and disputed the topic for several minutes.

Here are the facts; references from published sources showing the various ways that Sarin nerve gas (also, Tabun nerve gas) are related to the Organophosphate (OP) mosquito adulticides. The Organophosphate chemicals used for adult mosquito control include Naled, (used by Md. for aerial spraying) Fenthion, and Malathion.

University of Wisconsin, http://whyfiles.org/025chem_weap/4.html

Nerves -- the "perfect" target
Soon after the first organophosphate compound was invented at the German firm IG Farben in 1934, many recognized that it could be used as a pesticide -- or a chemical weapon. Organophosphates kill insects and people by jamming the nervous system. By the end of the 1930s, German chemists had produced about 2,000 organophosphates, including Sarin nerve gas.

Photo- Univ. of Wisc.

gas-mask adorned soldier

In an article on Health Hazards of Pesticides, the Natural Resources Defense Council reported that acute pesticide poisonings frequently involve organophosphate pesticides. These pesticides were originally derived from chemical warfare agents developed during World War II. Some common organophosphates in use today include Malathion, and Dursban (which is now being phased out, as DDT was years ago). http://www.nrdc.org/health/kids/farm/chap1.asp

About 3 weeks after the Sept 11 attack on the World Trade Center ABC News presented a program entitled Types of Chemical Weapons (Oct 5, 2001). Two nerve gasses, Sarin and Tabun were noted as members of the Organophosphate chemical family, “as are many pesticides.”

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/living/DailyNews/wtc_chemicalweapons.html

Other articles describe the relationship of OP mosquito adulticides to nerve gas: (excerpts-key words)

considered chemical cousins of nerve gas

http://www.pesticidesunset.org/spraying_sickens.html

same general chemical structure and action, Sarin and Tabun

http://aesop.rutgers.edu/~humeco/courses/gmclasses/global/classnotes/nerve_gas.htm

by-product of nerve gas

http://www.pan-uk.org/pestnews/actives/organoph.htm

chemically similar to nerve gas

http://www.superkill.ws/durandotorar.html

same chemical class

http://www.meepi.org/wnv/mass.htm

From a Canadian organization (re: Malathion, an organophosphate) Classified as an organophosphate chemical, and kills mosquitoes by disrupting their nervous system. If it were dispersed in a gaseous state, it could be called a "Nerve Gas", but it is an atomized liquid, therefore it should more accurately be called a "Nerve Fog.” http://www.members.shaw.ca/nomalathionplease/info.htm

Indeed, organophosphate adulticides are very toxic products, as illustrated by their close chemical relationship to Sarin nerve gas.

IV-c. Naled (Dibrom) Problems for Mosquito Control

Did you know: Naled (Dibrom-trade name) is the adulticide used in parts of Md. for mosquito spraying by aircraft and

it’s rated in chemical toxicity class 1, the most dangerous. (Extension Toxicology Network)

http://ace.orst.edu/info/extoxnet/pips/naled.htm

“ “ “ Naled is closely related to Sarin nerve gas, as a member of the organophosphate group of pesticides

invented by IG Farben in Germany in the 1930’s. (Sources on prior page) The same company invented

Zyklon-B used in the Nazi death camps.

“ “ “ The chemical Zyklon-B used in the Nazi death camps, had to be applied in a sealed room to be effective.

http://baltech.org/lederman/816proof.html (para. 6)

Handlers of the present-day adulticides are cautioned to handle these pesticides in well ventilated areas

with mechanically forced-air exhaust systems to avoid the same fate. (*)

“ “ “ Warnings for handling of Naled state that fatality can result from breathing the vapors. “MAY BE

FATAL IF INHALED” is mentioned several times among the instructions for proper handling (*)

Comment:

How much nerve gas (or its close chemical relative) do you want yourself or your kids to be exposed to?

The common-sense answer is – NONE.

Considering the above facts should give pause to any idea of using Naled in Worcester County, or any residential area. IT”S VERY TOXIC!

In addition, aerial spraying produces saturation of a community, and anyone caught outdoors could become ill. Eight people from Ocean Pines were taken by ambulance to Atlantic General Hospital in ’96 after Naled was aerially sprayed.

People caught outside during aerial spraying have practically “no chance” of avoiding exposure. (Md’s. twin-engine spray plane flies at 80 to 120 MPH, or more, and it sprays before dark, when people are more likely to be outdoors.) Joggers, bikers, people walking their dog, or taking a stroll, kids skating or playing baseball at twilight would all be at risk if aerial spraying is considered in Worcester County (and we hope it isn’t). Any food exposed at outdoor suppers and barbeques would be ruined.

We urge Worcester County to continue avoiding aerial spraying of Naled over residential areas, and to emphasize non-toxic alternatives discussed in this report.

Naled is also very toxic to crabs and fish, another reason to avoid its use in our environmentally sensitive County.

IV-d. Measures of Toxicity

Awareness of the measures of toxicity can assist in promoting non-toxic practices. Several methods of determining toxicity of products are commonly used.

The “chemical toxicity” rating system is based on lab tests of rats, to determine the amount of a pesticide causing deaths, sometimes called the LD50 or mammal toxicity tests. “LD50” refers to the Lethal Doses (LD) killing 50 percent of the subjects tested, and “mammalian toxicity” refers to the test subjects (rats). The ratings range from Class I -(the highest toxicity) to Class IV -(the lowest). If a small dosage of a product (droplets) can produce adverse results, a highest toxicity ranking is assigned.

“Adverse results” can be observed while the products are in use, providing additional toxicity information. Records are maintained of illnesses and poisoning occurrences for people including farm workers and pesticide handlers exposed to pesticides during product usage, (although there are some gaps in the record keeping.) Records are also maintained of fish diseases and fish-kills, fish-production, bird-counts, etc. Lab tests are conducted using biological samples from exposed individuals, killed fish and wildlife. Adverse results were observed while DDT was in use, leading to that pesticide’s eventual ban. “Adverse results” can also be observed in scientific laboratory and field studies.

Product profiles are published in various scientific journals and studies summarizing the toxicities of particular pesticides.

IV-e. Naled and Permethrin Toxicity:

The following information describes the adverse health effects of the mosquito adulticides used in Md., summarized from published profiles.

Naled (Dibrom, Trumpet – trade names)

Including Dichlorvos component

Special Concern: Naled is more potent when exposure is by

inhalation,. Also, the droplet size in mosquito spray is

more acutely toxic.

Naled is a chemical cousin of Sarin nerve gas.

Major health effects:

Death “May be fatal if inhaled”

Loss of consciousness

Respiratory paralysis

Difficulty breathing

Seizures

Eye corrosion

Other symptoms:

Skin corrosion

Muscle twitching

Muscle weakness

Diarrhea

Nausea

Dizziness

Lingering effects:

Long-term asthma

Multi-Chemical sensitivity

Disease links:

Immune system weakening, impaired blood white cells

Stomach and pancreatic tumors, & cancer risks

Childhood leukemia & brain tumors

Baby brain-size reductions from exposure during

pregnancy

Environmental Impacts:

Kills beneficial insects

Aquatic life Impacts: Very highly toxic to Aquatic

invertebrates (crabs, lobsters, shrimp)

Fish –Highly toxic, variable

Oysters –Very Highly Toxic

Other toxic ingredients in the product:

Dichlorvos, termed an Extremely Hazardous

Substance in the Superfund ratings

Triclorfon, naphthalene, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene,

Chemical group: Organophosphates

Chemical Toxicity Class: Class 1, the most dangerous

Sprayed by aircraft in MD.

Permethrin (Permanone -trade name)

Including piperonyl butoxide component

Special Concern: Elevated toxicity can occur when DEET repellants and

Permethrin exposures are both present. Gulf War Syndrome involved

similar chemical combinations of DEET, Permethrin and an anti-nerve

gas drug. Disabling fatigue, chronic bronchitis, and loss of memory

are symptoms.

Major health effects:

Paralysis

Convulsions

Tremors

Loss of coordination

Other symptoms:

Eye irritation-blurred vision, tears

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Intestinal inflammation

Skin irritation

Lingering effects: Multi-Chemical sensitivity

Disease links:

Immune system weakening, impaired T-cells & lymphocytes

A possible carcinogen

Lung tumors, adenomas & cancer risks

Liver tumors

Embryo loss during pregnancy

Impacts chromosomes causing possible mutations

Suppresses male sex hormones

Environmental Impacts

Kills beneficial insects

Aquatic life Impacts: Very highly toxic to Aquatic

invertebrates ( includes crabs, lobsters, shrimp,

crayfish)

Fish–Highly toxic, also bioconcentrates in fish

Oyster larva – Highly Toxic

Other toxic ingredients in the product:

Piperonyl Butoxide, suspected carcinogen

Chemical group: Synthetic Pyrethroid

Chemical Toxicity Class: Class III

Sprayed by trucks in MD.

Sources: (Naled, Permethrin, and other pesticide products)

Pesticide Fact Sheets, http://www.pesticide.org/factsheets.html NCAP

Chemical Watch Fact Sheets, www.beyondpesticides.org NCAMP

Pesticide Information Profiles, http://ace.orst.edu/info/extoxnet/pips/ghindex.html Extension
Toxicology Network

IV-f. Making People Sick

More people reported symptoms from pesticide than from the West Nile virus http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyKey=60330&BCCode=HOME&newsdate=6/15/2001

Albany, NY - Significantly more people reported being sick from the pesticides used to combat West Nile virus last year than came down with the illness, according to figures released Thursday by the NY State Health Department.

More than 200 people reported symptoms, most often after Anvil was sprayed. By comparison, only 14 people became sick in 2000 from the virus.

"When you are talking about using pesticides to address a virus, you are talking about two different health hazards,'' said Audrey Thier of Environmental Advocates in Albany. “When you are using pesticides in a residential area, people will be exposed.''

According to the health department, 22 people were added to the state's pesticide poisoning registry last year for symptoms related to spraying for West Nile virus.

The results of these findings come just a few months after the state announced changes in its controversial policy on spraying. After reviewing a number of control measures [including larviciding], the spraying of adulticides was stated to be the step of “last resort.” This year, chemicals like Anvil will only be sprayed when there is an imminent risk to human health.

"The spraying is going to be a last resort,'' said Dr. Antonia Novello, health commissioner, at a briefing for the media on the West Nile virus.

Note: Several counties and towns in NY State have publicized their use of non-toxic alternatives, in lieu of spraying (listed earlier in this report). NY City has been criticized in the media for blanket spraying entire areas of Staten Island in August 2001, (details later in this report), thus breaking away from the “last resort” policy.

People with Asthma, Children, Elderly, etc. are at risk from spray

NY Post 5/17/2000, http://www.co.st-louis.mo.us/doh/newsroom/news_02.html#asthma_may

http://www.cap-quebec.com/pdf/wnv_19th_august_02.pdf

Individuals who are most vulnerable to the chemical sprays include : children, pregnant women, the elderly, chemically sensitive and immuno-suppressed individuals such as patients with cancer, and people suffering with asthma. These vulnerable groups are identified in several of the studies cited herein.

According to the NYC Dept. of Health, asthmatics are the people who are most immediately at risk from the spraying of insecticides. And NY City happens to be the asthma capital of the U.S.

Asthma has reached epidemic proportions in the United States, affecting about 15 million people of all ages and races. New studies show the number of asthma cases is set to double by 2020 and strike 29 million Americans.

Asthma is a long-term, inflammatory disease in which the airways of the lungs become constricted, causing wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing. Asthma can be life threatening.

Today, one in thirteen school children has asthma. According to a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report, between 1980 and 1994, the percentage of pre-school aged children with asthma increased 160 percent.

Many jurisdictions have noted a concern for the adverse health effects on these chemically-vulnerable groups of people when they adopted policies to avoid adulticide spraying.

Scourge Mist Coats a House, Sickens Residents http://www.getipm.com/government/scrouge-westport-ct.htm

Westport, CT - 8/4/00 Lynn Pritchard reported: About 10 p.m., we heard a muffled bullhorn, saw lights and a police advance car two to three car-lengths ahead of a spray truck, both moving very slowly. A heavy mist hung in the air, and our house was coated. Fifteen minutes later, I tasted a bad, metallic taste in my mouth, as did my husband. My 23-month-old son coughed repeatedly in his sleep. We sat for one of the longest hours of our lives waiting for the poison to dissipate. Then, wrapping our son's head in a towel and burying our heads in our sleeves, we fled our home in the middle of the night. The next morning, I couldn't feel the top of my face, or my fingertips. I was so hoarse I could barely speak. My eyes, and those of my son, were ringed with red. By the end of the day I was disoriented and my reflexes were so slow I could not manage to hold a cup of tea.

Today, almost a year later, I find I am sensitive to certain chemicals that never bothered me before.

The Resmethrin in Scourge is apparently a hormone disruptor, and the chemical "carrier" it's mixed with, [piperonyl butoxide] is a suspected carcinogen. I object to being exposed to a neurotoxin laced with a carcinogen in an effort to control a virus that is significantly less deadly than last year's flu.

I'm not trying to diminish the tragedy of those few who have succumbed to the West Nile-like virus, but the fact of the matter is that most of these people had compromised immune systems. Ironically the very young or the very old are the exact people who are also most at risk of adverse reactions to pesticides.

County sprays Malathion, Child nearly dies July 01, 2002

http://www.getipm.com/our-loved-ones/stories/malathion-tx.htm

Angleton, TX: Shannon Dunnigan, reported: Both of my children were "fogged" by our county mosquito control truck (using malathion) and both were sick within 12 hrs. The oldest, who didn't get the brunt of the spraying, ended up in our Emergency Room with acute exacerbation of asthma. The youngest, who did get the majority of the spray ended up on life-support for 3 days and was hospitalized for a total of 6 days. When he first became ill it was with terrible coughing, red eyes, chest pain, and progressed to respiratory distress. He was flown out by Lifeflight to Hermann Hospital from our local community hospital.

Mexico Leak of Malathion Forces Evacuations, 120 hospitalized http://www.getipm.com/articles/mexico-malathion.htm

MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Hundreds of people in central Mexico were evacuated and 120 were hospitalized after an accident at a pesticide factory released clouds of malathion pesticide, authorities said Wednesday. The accident occurred late Tuesday at a plant owned by the Mexican chemical firm, Tekchem. `People reported dizziness, vomiting, and skin and eye irritations,'' said Arturo Gutierrez, the civil defense director. Thirty-six people remained hospitalized Wednesday, under close observation by doctors.

Worker Sickened by Spray, Crashes Truck http://www.nydailynews.com/today/News_and_Views/City_Beat/a-97152.asp

Workers hired to conduct spraying in New York complained of improper equipment. The company's 50 small pickup trucks contained a tank of Anvil and a sprayer mounted on the back. “Half the trucks, including his, had no air conditioning” said Samuel Gowrie, 46, who for three months was one of Clarke's nighttime sprayers. That meant windows stayed open as they drove behind a police escort for a six-hour shift, blanketing the streets and themselves with pesticide mist. In one case, the driver was so sickened he lost control of his truck.

Corey Gregory, had just such an accident late one night on the FDR Drive. The fumes from the spraying, he said, "made me nauseous, and I started vomiting in the truck. I lost control of the vehicle and ricocheted from one side to the other of FDR Drive. All the Anvil spilled out of the truck."

Naled mosquito spraying sends residents to hospital

The community ambulance driver of Ocean Pines, Md. reported that eight residents were taken to Atlantic General Hospital after Naled was aerially sprayed on the community in ’96. In the community of South Point, West Ocean City, Md. five residents reported laryngitis, thick mucous coating their throats and trouble swallowing (three of them developed asthma) after Naled was aerially sprayed on their community in ‘96.

After these problems occurred, they learned that many hospitals, including Atlantic General (the local one), do not test for pesticide exposures (cholinesterase levels) in their patients.

See Appendix A, for additional details of the adverse effects of Naled in these communities.

Land Surveyor Goes into Coma after Malathion Spraying http://www.getipm.com/articles/malathion-aerial.htm

Stanley J. Lupa, age 34, a former body builder, was surveying land in Tampa on June 14, 1997 when he was sprayed with Malathion from a spray-plane. He became sick within 48 hours, went into seizures and a coma, and is still on medication to control seizures.

Lupa has filed suit in U.S. District Court against the Danish manufacturers of malathion, Auriga Industries A/S, Cheminova A/S, and their U.S. subsidiary, Cheminova Inc. of Wayne, N.J

IV-g. Killing Fish and Crabs

BLUE CRABS TURNING UP DEAD IN GREAT SOUTH BAY http://www.safe2use.com/ca-ipm/00-08-29.htm

Large amounts of blue crabs have begun turning up dead in Great South Bay in shallow water areas adjacent to the marshes in Mastic and Shirley where mosquito spraying by Suffolk County Vector Control has been taking place for over a month. Suffolk County has been spraying massive amounts of the pesticides Resmethrin and Sumethrin in the marshes around the Mastic/Shirley area for over a month. Both pesticides are known to be extremely deadly to marine life and are banned in countries such as the United Kingdom for that reason.

“We were having one of the best years we’ve had in 20 years until the spraying started,” said Steve Kelly a crabber from Brookhaven, New York. “Then all of a sudden, right after the spraying started, crabs started turning up dead like we’ve never seen before.”

Photos: Alliance for a Living Ocean

CRAB KILLER - (PESTICIDE)

http://www.citypaper.com/2000-10-04/nose3.html

Upon investigating the pesticide Permethrin, we find that its quite lethal to aquatic species, including blue crabs, whose precipitously declining numbers in the Chesapeake Bay are already the cause of concern. Bill Smith, head of Fish Unlimited, a conservation group up in New York state, was asked about the NY spraying for West Nile Virus. He said

“What died in huge numbers were blue crabs and horseshoe crabs. And it doesn't take long for it to happen, and it doesn't take a lot of pesticides to do this. We have some data which show that at 0.04 parts per billion--which is almost nothing--these same pyrethroids will kill crabs and lobsters."

FISH-KILL SITUATION – FLANDERS BAY

HEALTH COMMITTEE, Suffolk County Legislature (Long Island, NY) Minutes

December 6, 2001, Public meeting, Testimony by Kevin McAllister, Peconic Baykeeper

Addressing the Fish-kill Situation, Mr. McAllister stated: On Sunday, August 12th, I was called from my home to investigate a fish kill at a tributary of Flanders Bay called Priest's Pond.

When I arrived on site, there were 60 to 70 dead juvenile flounder there. A nearby property owner stated that the number was far in excess in the preceding hours. Also present were thousands of grass shrimp [dead] within the inter-tidal zone. A couple of days’ prior, Vector [mosquito] Control came through this neighborhood with a fogger. In the communication with the division staff, they did confirm that.

This was not dissolved oxygen incident. When you're looking at thousands of dead grass shrimp that are in shallow waters, close to the edge on the tidal fringes, they're not susceptible to low oxygen. I brought them to a laboratory in Holbrook, packed in ice, to be analyzed for pesticides.

What they identified were in this case Pyrethroids. That's Scourge and that's Anvil (and Permethrin for that matter.) Both again, pesticides in use with the Vector [Mosquito] Control Program. It showed up at 27.6 parts per billion. Extremely high levels.

V -- Improper Practices

V-a. Federal Violations and Mistakes

It is a violation of Federal Law to use a pesticide in any matter inconsistent with its labeling, under provisions of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act.

Pesticide use restrictions require avoiding contact with people’s skin, clothing, eyes, and there are warnings against inhaling vapors, and of course against ingestion. In other words, people should not be directly sprayed! And there are similar warnings concerning domestic animals, for fish and aquatic invertebrates (crabs, shrimp etc.), and for bees (essential for pollination). Storage and handling are regulated. Fogging procedures and dosages are also regulated. But actual practices may be slipshod, and violations are seldom investigated, until they become flagrant.

Handling, storage and spraying of pesticides is not consistently carried out as regulations require, and these mistakes cause excessive public and environmental exposure to the toxic pesticides. By Murphy’s law, there will always be mistakes, spills, etc. And these mistakes are mostly covered up, and seldom published by most jurisdictions. But in New York many of these mistakes have been uncovered by the efforts of strong investigative reporting. And it’s quite likely these same kinds of mistakes are also occurring elsewhere.

New York Examples:

Variety of Improper Spraying Practices: http://www.rawfoodinfo.com/articles/art_pest&WNV.html

Newsday, August 20, 2001 by Mitchel Cohen. The City [NY] has disregarded virtually all the directions and warnings included with these chemicals by their manufacturers. Contrary to both the directions on the labels and existing environmental law the spraying was done directly on humans, over bodies of water, without sufficient warning and more often than not at times when it is known to be completely ineffective for killing mosquitoes [daytime.] New York City claimed [for 2001] pesticide spraying would be a "last resort." Yet on Friday, August 10th, Mayor Giuliani announced his decision to again blanket-spray entire areas of Staten Island. How quickly that "last resort" became a "first resort."

Poor Practices at the Depot: http://www.safe2use.com/ca-ipm/01-01-25a.htm Meg Feeley, a researcher, reported several abusive practices at the Bronx River Avenue depot in New York. Spray equipment for 50 trucks, gators and ATVs (All Terrain Vehicles) was tested every day by releasing large clouds of pesticide into the air. This depot is located directly adjacent (well within 100 feet) of the Bronx River, in violation of spray restrictions. These repeated releases are also a hazard to the residential community surrounding the depot. Spills and open pesticide “overpour” containers were left unattended for months, well past the spray activity, into December. Videotapes were obtained confirming these conditions showing excess public and environmental exposures.

Public Announcements Gave Assurances/Boundaries, Actual Spraying Violated the Assurances, People Were Doused with Spray: http://www.safe2use.com/ca-ipm/00-09-06.htm

NY officials had stated that helicopter spraying of Anvil would be over “unpopulated,” nonresidential areas not accessible to all-terrain vehicles. But on August 31, 2000, contrary to announced procedures, helicopter spraying occurred over three ball fields, a golf course and a residential area near High Rock Park.

Parents criticized the city's helicopter spraying. “The helicopter flew by four times.," said Kathleen Collins of West Brighton, who was watching her 8-year-old son, Michael, play. She said she sat in her car, cradling her 1-month-old daughter, Kayla, during the dousing. Eleanor Conforti was at the Mid-Island Babe Ruth League's Travis baseball fields and was hit with spray, along with two teams and two full bleachers. "I'm appalled at this. I'm just so upset because all these kids are here," said Ms. Conforti. "This is a crowded field and you're telling me this is uninhabited?" "Unpopulated? You can't get more populated than a field full of kids having fun," said Joe Yacca of Great Kills.

Lou Pinheiro, 43, of Bay Terrace, and Robert Trimarchi, 35, of Westerleigh, were sprayed on the fourth hole of LaTourette Golf Course near Forest Hill Road. "There were at least 100 people out there and they were spraying right over us," said Pinheiro. "When everybody was leaving, they sprayed right over the parking lot." "Those condominiums on Forest Hill Road were being sprayed too," said Trimarchi. "It's very irresponsible. Following the incident, there were apparently no investigations, discipline or corrective measures (none were publicized.)

When spraying begins ahead of announced times, people can be caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. The blame should be placed upon spray agencies when announced schedules are not properly followed, as the public will rely on these schedules to avoid exposures to pesticides. Two NY cases involved people getting very sick after being sprayed when the trucks arrived early, by ½ hour and 1¼ hours.

http://www.safe2use.com/ca-ipm/00-09-19.htm http://www.getipm.com/articles/ny-anvil.htm

Improper pesticide storage increases toxicity: http://www.safe2use.com/ca-ipm/01-07-18.htm

It's now apparent that the Fyfanon (trade name) Malathion (chemical name) sprayed over the New York region may have been stored at temperatures which cause conversion to a more deadly compound, Isomalathion. The EPA announced in June ‘01 that Fyfanon/Malathion supplies in Suffolk, Middlesex, and Monmouth counties had become laced with the more potent neurotoxin. The Malathion pesticide is supposed to be stored at temperatures no higher than 77 degrees F. to avoid conversion to the more potent chemical. Investigators claim that when Fyfanon arrives from Denmark it's warehoused in Georgia and southern Texas in sweltering conditions. From those depots, it's distributed to places such as New York.

Five workers were killed and another 2800 were sickened in Pakistan during a 1976. Upon investigation, one cause was found to be Isomalathion created when the Malathion was improperly stored, at higher temperatures.

Inadequate Training, Inadequate Equipment, injures workers and threatens the public http://www.nydailynews.com/today/News_and_Views/City_Beat/a-97152.asp Six men who worked in NY city's spraying campaign for West Nile Virus say their employer failed to properly train them or to provide protective equipment. Sworn affidavits have been filed within complaints to the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration stating: supervisors gave them little or no training on applying the chemical, no information on its dangers, and they were not given proper safety gear. They say they were sent out alone in spray trucks from their first day on the job, and that company officials later dismissed their complaints of adverse health effects. The men have suffered from severe headaches, difficulty breathing, loss of hair, nausea and even sexual dysfunction.

Federal and state law requires that mosquito pesticides be administered only by licensed applicators, or by apprentices who have at least 48 hours of training. The training requirement is intended to help protect the public from the hazards of improper spraying of pesticides which could threaten the public health, as well as the employees.

Fish and Shrimp Found Dead after Violations: http://www.beyondpesticides.org/main.html Newsday In the past two years, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has issued the county 14 violations for misusing pesticides. Two violations came after an Aug. 7, 2001 incident in which the county sprayed Scourge, a pesticide formulation containing the synthetic pyrethroid Resmethrin, which is lethal to fish, within 21 feet and 41 feet of water at two sites. Scourge's label requires a 150-foot radius. According to Newsday, hundreds of dead grass shrimp and baby flounder were found at one of those sites five days later.

Maryland Example:

Larviciding Activity Was Omitted, adult mosquitoes became abundant Aug, 02, Sept. 02, May, 02, Residents of Maryland’s eastern shore have been concerned about recurring reports that larviciding has been missed, omitted, or delayed due to maintenance problems with the airplane that’s supposed to be used for larviciding over marshy areas. The latest example occurred August ’02 when a news article (8/8/02) stated the plane was again grounded for repairs and unable to apply larvicide needed at the time to stop the immature mosquitoes from developing. As a result, large quantities of mosquitoes emerged and massive aerial spraying was performed one month later. The announcement came in a news article (9/8/02) that 27,000 acres were going to be aerially sprayed, (using the toxic product Naled.) Later the area to be sprayed was increased to 60,000 acres.

Md. residents who are aware of the toxic hazards of adulticiding are appalled at this situation. The aerial adulticide spraying saturates an area, so that anyone caught outside can’t avoid exposure to toxins. And the Naled product is in Toxicity Class 1, the most toxic. (Naled discussed earlier). And a widespread area was sprayed with adulticide. (Adverse impacts of widespread spraying are discussed later.)

The situation becomes even more unjustified when it’s learned that the Md. mosquito authorities used a helicopter for larviciding in College Park. Md. in May ’02. They apparently had no back-up plan to bring the helicopter for larviciding over to Md’s. Eastern shore, whenever the plane assigned to this area was broken down.

And there was apparently no effort to fill the gap from anywhere else. (Delaware has larviciding aircraft, and in this area with much agriculture, there are probably crop-duster aircraft which could be placed on stand-by contracts.)

Another Example: In Worcester County in May ’02, the plane was again broken down at the time that larviciding was needed. A local citizen wrote a Letter-to-Editor, published in the local press to complain. Frequent truck spraying was the result. In previous years, similar examples have occurred, when the plane has broken down at the times needed for larviciding.

This is UNSATISFACTORY and should be remedied.

Sources: Star-Democrat Aug. 8, 02 Mosquitoes thriving while plane that sprays larvicide is grounded , Sept. 8, 02 Mosquito Spraying will begin Monday, More than 27,000 acres, Md. Dept of Agriculture, News Release, May 12, 02 Aerial Mosquito Control [Larviciding] Planned for Areas of College Park [by helicopter] The Dispatch. May 3, ’02 Letter-to-Editor

V-b. Routine Spraying and Widespread Spraying are Improper

Pesticides are heavily regulated products subject to many restrictions: labeling is regulated, “skull and crossbones” and special poison labeling are required, “KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN” is clearly printed on containers, materials handling by workers is regulated, workers are required to be trained and licensed to use the products, protective clothing requirements--gloves, goggles, respirators, etc. are specifically outlined. Pesticides are dangerous. They are not the kinds of products that are appropriate to be routinely used.

From the simplest standards of accountability, routine spraying would fail to be justified. It’s wasteful of public funds, and places far too many toxic products into neighborhoods, thus elevating the public risk.

Routine spraying (for example, every-Tuesday) has been denounced about 15 or more years ago by many mosquito authorities. Routine spraying ignores the common sense rule, to spray only when quantities of mosquitoes are present. Routine spraying ignores the fact that adulticide products have restrictions regarding wind speeds, temperatures, etc. These pesticides have weather restrictions such as rain, mist, wind, high temperatures and low temperatures, conditions when they should not be applied.

Routine adulticide spraying usually means that none of the non-toxic techniques are being used, and full reliance is placed upon adulticiding, (the more toxic method). Studies have shown that routine spraying of adulticides produces poor results, and can actually increase the mosquito populations.

Three examples of poor results are discussed below.

Routine adulticide spraying of Naled resulted in 15-fold increase in mosquitoes.

Journal of the Am Mosquito Control Assoc, Dec; 13(4):315-25, 1997, Howard and Oliver

Routine aerial spraying of the adulticide Naled (Dibrom) over the Cicero swamp in NY State for

an 11-year period (’84 through ’94) was performed, attempting to help control eastern equine encephalitis carried by mosquitoes (Cs. Melanura). The study found that instead of declining, the mosquitoes grew 15-fold at Cicero swamp, (that’s 1500%) during the period. This increase in mosquitoes was attributed to altering the environmental balance and killing organisms that would have helped limit the mosquito population.

Resistance to spray means greater numbers of mosquitoes in future

Nature. 400:861-864. Sukontason, K. et al. 1998. and Journal of Medical Entomology. 34(2):244-246. Wirth, M.C. and G. P. Georghiou. 1996.

Despite routine spraying, a portion of the mosquitoes will survive, those resistant to the pesticide. This resistance is passed onto new generations. It builds up, producing cycles of even stronger resistance in future offspring. As a result, future spraying will be killing fewer and fewer mosquitoes, leading to greater numbers of mosquitoes surviving and thriving. This phenomenon occurs readily in species reproducing in short-time intervals, such as mosquitoes with a reproductive cycle of a few weeks.

Routine adulticide spraying misses the larvae still developing

Stopping Mosquitoes Safely (Spring 2001), and Mosquitoes—The Water Connection (Spring 1987) from Bio-integral Resource Center

The misdirected practice of routine spraying for adult mosquitoes still continues in some areas. Wasted money and effort, and dangerous side effects, result when mosquito control is directed against the adults instead of going to the source—water—where the larval stages are found. Adult mosquito control by communities is ineffective and serves only to put toxic materials into the air people and their pets breathe.

Newly hatched mosquitoes will quickly replace the adults sprayed, if the larvae aren’t also being controlled. There will be a treadmill effect as the mosquito life-cycle continues, new mosquitoes hatching, followed by more routine spraying, etc.

Additional studies indicate that adulticides can control only portions of the mosquito populations, as some mosquitoes are resistant (noted above), and some have avoided the spray by hiding under foliage, etc. Again, these are additional reasons why routine adulticide spraying is ineffective.

Routine Spraying and Widespread Spraying Will Amplify the Adulticide Health Hazards

(Increasing the Encephalitis Risks, Impairing the Immune System)

Greater amounts of pesticides will be placed into the air and environment when the spraying is performed routinely and over widespread areas. Those practices can be described as massive spraying, which raises the hazards present in the spraying chemicals to the highest levels. This will also raise impacts on health to the highest levels. Earlier in this report the problems were discussed of increasing the risks of encephalitis, and of impairing people’s immune systems. Routine spraying and widespread spraying are the poorest choices, producing the most toxicity and increasing the odds of health impacts. Most of the sources and studies surveyed have cautioned against such sprayings variously described as massive, widespread, routine, blanket, area-wide, broadcast, etc.

Aerial Spraying Increases Health Hazards: A similar problem occurs when the adulticiding in done by aircraft, with large amounts of pesticides being released into the air. A community becomes saturated when aerially sprayed and anyone caught outdoors has no chance of avoiding exposure. These aircraft fly at 80 to 120 MPH or more dousing wide areas with quantities of adulticides, thus increasing the odds of health impacts.

Aerial spraying also has the problem of pesticide drift which contaminates waterways, public reservoirs of drinking water and other unintended targets. And the spray-planes can crash, as occurred in ’96 in Louisiana, killing several mosquito control personnel, and spilling the pesticide. Maryland’s plane has had mechanical problems and been broken down frequently over several years. Risk of crashes are thus increasing, as well as the concern for lack of larviciding at the appropriate times, causing increases of adult mosquito populations from improper prevention. (detailed earlier.)

Recognizing these problems, various sources have criticized aerial spraying, stating: “Do Not Conduct Aerial Spraying of Adulticides”

http://www.beyondpesticides.org/main.html, Public Health Mosquito Management

Bio-Integral Resource Center, Stopping Mosquitoes Safely

http://www.orgsites.com/ma/npac/audubon.htm Mosquito Control

Journal of Pesticide Reform, Pesticides Drift

Widespread Spraying Impacts Agriculture

The success of agriculture depends in large measure on pollination, a necessary step in the production of most fruits and vegetables and in the production of many forage crops utilized by livestock. It is estimated that domestic honey bees pollinate only 15% of these crops, while the remainder are pollinated by wild bees and other wildlife, principally insects.

Widespread spraying of mosquito adulticides can adversely impact a broad range of

honey bees, other insects and wildlife, as these pesticides are broad-based killers. Loss

of crop productivity could occur from loss of pollinating species resulting from widespread adulticide spraying. Organic farms could lose their status and their market if exposed to the mosquito pesticides.

Widespread spraying is a poor choice, and should be avoided where agriculture is at risk.

http://www.meepi.org/wnv/overkillma.htm (& bees photo)

Widespread Spraying Impacts Mosquito’s Natural Predators

http://www.meepi.org/wnv/overkillma.htm

Widespread spraying for mosquito control can increase mosquito populations by killing off natural predators (dragonflies, fish, birds, bats, amphibians, wasps, etc.) of the mosquitoes and their larvae, thereby removing natural control of mosquito population levels. The fewer mosquito predators there are, the more mosquitoes there will be. The results at Cicero swamp in NY State (discussed earlier) indicated that mosquitoes increased 15-fold when the natural predators were impacted by routine adulticiding.

Dragonflies are important predators as the adults eat adult mosquitoes and the nymphs feed on mosquito larvae and pupae. Other natural predators such as bats and birds (Purple Martins and Tree Swallows) eat adult mosquitoes and can help reduce their numbers in an area. Communities and residents have maintained bird and bat houses as another natural method of control. Goldfish serve as natural predators in ornamental water gardens and ponds, but the feeding of fish food should be limited if residents expect the fish to eat mosquito larvae. Gambusia fish are used by some jurisdictions, adding these fish to drainage holding ponds and other freshwater ponds. Guppies, sunfish and killies have also been successfully used as natural predators of mosquito larvae. By avoiding adulticide spraying, the natural predators will benefit.

Dragonfly Photos: Sac-Splash Watershed Ed., Aquila

Schools Media

Dr. Sheldon Krimsky, a pesticide-risk specialist at Tufts University explains how spraying increases mosquito populations. "The pesticides kill the predators of mosquitoes, so when the mosquitoes return, as they always do, they return (and thrive) in a much more supportive environment.” http://magazine.audubon.org/incite/incite0109.html

Drawing: Fish, eating mosquito larvae -- goldfish and Gambusia, BIRC

In projects for Open Marsh Water Management, a series of trenches and pond areas are excavated in tidal marshes. The trenches allow minnows and other small fish to enter marsh areas and feed upon mosquito larvae, providing another natural method of control.

Photo: Purple Martin Birds, Nature Society

Ocean Pines, Md. is an example of a community encouraging residents to maintain Purple Martin bird-houses.

Near the Annapolis, Md. and Glen Burnie areas, Boy Scouts are installing bat houses along a recreation trail. Zach Groff, an Eagle Scout promoting the project, said he was looking for an alternative to insecticide sprayings in Maryland that are costly and pose a potential health hazard. Baltimore Sunpaper, July 22, 2001

VI – Conclusion

Again, the purpose in preparing this update-report is to help fill the information gap regarding non-toxic mosquito control practices, and the hazards of spraying mosquito adulticides. Both of these topics have been under-publicized by the media in reporting West Nile matters. Below, is a summary of several of the most pertinent issues from the above report.

A. A number of non-toxic alternatives are available, and are being used in many jurisdictions, (including Md.) However, the public is often unaware of these alternatives.

B. When West Nile virus is found, adulticide spraying is not automatically the answer. Larviciding and other non-toxic methods are being re-emphasized in many jurisdictions when West Nile is found in birds, horses, and mosquito pools, and even when people have become infected. (For example, Washington DC)

C. When jurisdictions have avoided adulticide spraying, they are mentioning concern for the health of their sensitive groups of citizens, those with asthma, children, elderly, etc.

D. Adulticide spraying is the “least-efficient” method; prevention steps are “most-effective.”

E. Adulticide spraying is toxic to the public and to the environment. It makes people sick and can result in lingering effects, long-term asthma, etc. It kills fish and crabs.

F. A study by New York State’s Health Dept. found more people were made sick by the mosquito adulticide spraying than from the West Nile virus.

G. Scientists and doctors have published their concerns about the effects mosquito adulticide spraying, including:

1. Small quantities of exposure to pesticides can cause health impacts. The argument that mosquito sprays are “ultra low” volume is a false assurance. These sprays are still making people sick, some severely sick with lingering effects.

2. The adulticide sprays can increase the chances of people developing encephalitis, (the more severe form of West Nile virus). The adulticides weaken people’s immune systems (white blood cells, t-cells & lymphocytes), and they can weaken people’s defense by damaging the brain-blood barrier.

3. The adulticide sprays can actually increase numbers of disease-carrying mosquitoes. Three effects are observed:

Ø Natural enemies of the mosquitoes are destroyed by the spraying, allowing more mosquitoes to reproduce.

Ø Surviving mosquitoes become resistant and thrive regardless of being routinely sprayed.

Ø More mosquitoes may carry the encephalitis when they have been weakened by the sprays.

4. All the adulticides are more toxic than the larvicides, which are basically non-toxic.

5. The aerial method of spraying adulticides produces saturation of communities, and should not be used.

The following are a series of rather descriptive quotes from the scientists and studies regarding adulticide spraying, taken from sources mentioned within the report. The quotes clearly show how strongly these authorities are concerned about the use of mosquito adulticides.

“Overkill, causing more harm than good,”

“Do not use adulticides "

“great deal more harm than good”

“represents a failed technology.”

“possibly should be abandoned altogether.”

“Stop pesticide spraying for ‘nuisance mosquitoes’ “

“Do Not conduct aerial spraying”

“Adulticide spraying is like the battlefield terminology ‘friendly fire’, killing one’s own friends while intending to shoot an enemy.”

“wasted money and effort, potentially dangerous side effects, because effort is directed against the adult mosquito, instead of going to the source—water--where larval stages are found.”

" not more than one-tenth of 1 percent of the poison is actually hitting the target mosquitoes - - as efficacy of spraying approaches zero, what's the point of exposing our bodies, ecosystems, and wildlife to toxic chemicals in the first place?”

“warn the public about pesticide dangers.”

“dangerous to the public health.”

Mosquito control authorities are often wedded to their traditional adulticide spraying practices, and generally have been reluctant to inform the public of the non-toxic alternatives, implying that spraying is the primary method of control. Of course, we are sympathetic to all of the victims of West Nile Virus and wish that their suffering had not occurred. But there is a need to do mosquito control in the right way to avoid the undesirable, toxic side-effects. And there are communities, counties and towns getting the message, recognizing the toxicity issues and adopting the non-toxic programs.

Recommendation:

For the reasons mentioned throughout this report, we urge Worcester County, Md. to continue to avoid toxic mosquito adulticides (especially to avoid aerial spraying). And we recommend that local towns and communities, such as Ocean Pines, emphasize and expand the use of non-toxic alternatives.

Report prepare by: Tom Hemmick

Assisted by: Betty Hemmick

December 2002

Ocean Pines, Berlin, (Worcester County) Maryland, 21811

Website: http://skipper.physics.sunysb.edu/mosquito/

Appendix A -- Local Problems from Aerial Spraying

In 1996, the local communities in the Worcester County, Md. area, bordering the coastal bays were aerially sprayed five times with Naled/Dibrom, an adulticide in Class I, the highest toxicity (without any disease threat).

The following excerpt/quote from Mosquito Association minutes, for the Eastern shore of Md. for ’96 illustrates that little emphasis was given to preventive measures (non-toxic larvaciding), but that vast amounts of the toxic adulticide Naled(Dibrom) were used.

“We did relatively little larviciding and relied heavily on aerial adulticide -- treated 276,579 acres with Dibrom concentrate”.

The widespread spraying (over 276,000 acres) occurred soon after Md. acquired its new spray airplane.

The following are problems observed by citizens in the communities of Ocean Pines, Md. and South Point after the 1996 aerial spraying with Naled/Dibrom, indicating adverse environmental and health effects.

In Ocean Pines, Md.:

>> Residents saw hundreds of dead and dying crickets lying in the roads each morning after spraying.

>> Bird populations substantially declined throughout that summer. There were no more butterflies or hummingbirds seen in the area.

>> While golfing, residents who looked up at the spray plane reported eye irritation.

>> Some residents were having an outdoor barbecue when the spray plane flew over. They threw away their dinner which was ruined by the spray.

>> A six-year old German Shepherd dog first developed a cough and later developed lymphosarcoma (cancer of the lymph glands) and died at the end of the summer.

>> The community ambulance driver reported that eight residents were taken to Atlantic General Hospital after the aerial spraying of Naled.

In South Point (West Ocean City, Md.):

>> Residents saw about 20 dead salt-marsh voles (small mammals like moles) after several sprayings.

>> Dragonflies were erratically contorting in pain before dying. Little frogs were found dead. There were no more ladybugs in this area.

>> Five people reported laryngitis, thick mucous coating their throats and trouble swallowing. Also, three developed asthma after the spraying. After these problems occurred, they found that many hospitals, including the local one, Atlantic General Hospital, do not test for pesticide reactions (cholinesterase levels) in their patients.

>> On a summer evening a resident was outside with his dog when the spray plane flew directly overhead. He experienced a bitter taste in the mouth and within 15 minutes had difficulty speaking and was unable to speak normally for 24 hours. In the Fall, his dog had severe breathing problems and was diagnosed with lymphosarcoma with no chance of survival. Deaths of several cats were also reported.

Warnings were not issued:

No prior warnings were given to residents and thus some were caught outdoors during the spraying. Also, one of the community associations declined to publish a list of precautions from the EPA. (One resident had obtained the list, after extensive researching.) The Md. Mosquito Control Section has omitted or minimized publicizing these kinds of precautions. Here is the full list from the EPA:

> remain indoors when applications are being made,

> if outdoors do not look up at the spray,

> bring in children’s toys and laundry before spraying begins,

> do yard work before spraying begins,

> cover outdoor eating surfaces and play equipment, or hose them off after spraying is finished,

> wash exposed skin surfaces with soap and water after touching surfaces that have residues,

> if you get residues in your eyes, rinse with water or eye drops.”

In May 1998 the Worcester County Commissioners increased funding for larvaciding and assistance of a county employee and vehicle. The purpose is to increase larvacide coverage of areas of the county beyond the boundaries of communities in the cost-sharing control mosquito program. In May 1999, the Worcester Commissioners restricted aerial spraying to health emergencies confirmed by the Md. Health Dept. (noted in 3/27/00 lettter.) These actions have benefited the people and the aquatic environment of the Coastal Bays area.

Appendix B – New/Emerging Non-toxic Products

Research is continuing in the search for additional non-toxic products. Here are two examples.

Garlic barrier

This is a new product stated by its manufacturer to provide effective mosquito control. Three effects are claimed: killing adult mosquitoes, suffocating the larvae in standing water, and a residual repellant effect in foliage for two to four weeks. The product is a non-toxic, food-based substance not requiring registration as a pesticide.

One report states that the Stratford, Conn.- Department of Conservation has been testing garlic barrier for mosquito control in 2001, and finding very good results.

http://www.garlicbarrier.com/MosquitoBarrier.html http://www.co.suffolk.ny.us/legis/clerk/cmeet/hs/2001/ht120601R.htm

New TMOF Larvacide (brand name Skeetercide)

This new larvacide product is based on the hormone trypsin modulating oostatic factor, or TMOF.

The University of Florida holds the patents and Insect Biotechnology Inc. the licensee, received permits from Florida and the EPA and began field testing in Sept. 2002. The biochemist, Dov Borovsky, developed the product at the University of Florida's Medical Entomology Laboratory. With gene splicing, and imbedding into yeast, and binding with cellulose particles, the product is formed into larvacide granules lasting about 20 days. The product is a non-toxic, biological control.

Borovsky said the hormone kills all varieties of mosquito larvae they've tested it on. It works in salt and clear water, and does not harm the environment or other species.

Dr. Alan Brandt, the co-founder, is hoping to begin marketing the first part of next year (’03), before the next mosquito season.

http://www.enn.com/news/wire-stories/2002/09/09032002/reu_48319.asp

http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/17570/story.htm

I –Highlights

II – Hazards and Alternatives – are under-publicized

II-a. Filling the Information Gap

II-b. Media Omits the Hazards of Adulticides

II-c. Media Photos

II-d. Sprays Are Not Safe

III – Non-toxic Alternatives

III-a. Towns, Counties and States avoiding adulticide spraying:

III-b. Other Maryland Non-toxic Examples:

III-c. Studies Promoting Non-toxic Alternatives (i.e. Prevention Methods)

III-d. CDC calls prevention steps “most effective”; adulticiding “least efficient”

III-e. Other groups promoting non-toxic alternatives

IV - Toxicity

IV-a. Professors, Doctors and Scientists Against Spraying

IV-b. The pesticides connection to Nerve Gas

IV-c. Naled (Dibrom) Problems for Mosquito Control

IV-d. Measures of Toxicity

IV-e. Naled and Permethrin Toxicity:

IV-f. Making People Sick

IV-g. Killing Fish and Crabs

V -- Improper Practices

V-a. Federal Violations and Mistakes

V-b. Routine Spraying and Widespread Spraying are Improper

VI – Conclusion

Appendix A -- Local Problems from Aerial Spraying

Appendix B – New/Emerging Non-toxic Products