Effectiveness of
Widespread Mosquito Spraying for West Nile Virus In Question
From: Robina Suwol
Date: 07 Aug 2003
Time:
19:18:52
Remote Name: 66.141.123.119
Comments
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 1, 2003
Contact: Jay Feldman or John Kepner 202-543-5450
Effectiveness of Widespread Mosquito Spraying for West Nile Virus In Question
(Washington, DC - August 1, 2003) As government agencies conduct pesticide
spray programs for West Nile virus, the federal agency responsible for
determining the effectiveness of this practice has not conducted reviews, as
required by law. Meanwhile, local jurisdictions are beginning to ask for the
evidence that spraying their communities with toxic pesticides actually
controls the virus and is worth the health risks associated with widespread
public exposure to the chemicals.
Noted entomologist and Cornell University Professor David Pimentel told an
Ohio audience last month that, "Ground spraying in general is a waste of
money. Most ground spraying is political and has very little to do with
mosquito control."
"We have asked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the data on
pesticide product effectiveness (efficacy) for public health mosquito control
uses and have been told that there is none," said Jay Feldman, executive
director of Beyond Pesticides, a national environmental organization. "This is
particularly problematic because chemicals like chlorpyrifos (Dursban), which
was phased out for all household uses beginning in June 2000, continues to be
widely sprayed in communities throughout the country. This is especially
troublesome given the availability of alternative preventive and less toxic
management approaches," said Mr. Feldman. The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide
and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) requires that pesticides registered for public
health use are tested for efficacy, but EPA is still in the review process.
Communities across the country are stopping their use of pesticides and
adopting preventive strategies that manage mosquito breeding areas and educate
people to use non-toxic insect repellents. The City of Lyndhurst, Ohio, a
suburb of Cleveland, passed a landmark ordinance (
http://www.beyondpesticides.org/mosquito/alerts/Lyndhurst%20OH%20ordinance.htm)
on July 7, 2003 prohibiting the spraying of pesticides "in an effort to help
control the spread of the West Nile virus." The City's action follows a
community forum in which a panel of experts on mosquito management and health
effects of pesticides discussed the hazards and the lack of efficacy
associated with the spraying of adulticides, or pesticides used to spray adult
mosquitoes. Other communities, such as Ft. Worth, Texas and Washington, DC are
on record with no-spray policies.
Currently, the insecticides naled (Dibrom) and chlorpyrifos (Dursban), two of
the most toxic organophosphate pesticides on the market, are among the most
common chemicals sprayed for mosquito problems in neighborhoods all across the
United States. Organophosphates are a highly toxic class of pesticides that
affects the central nervous, cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Symptoms
of exposure include: numbness, tingling sensations, headache, dizziness,
tremors, nausea, abdominal cramps, sweating, incoordination, convulsions, and
fatality. Some organophosphates have been linked to birth defects and cancer.
Breakdown times range from a few days in direct sunlight, to several months. A
1996 study of children exposed to chlorpyrifos in utero found that extensive
and unusual patterns of birth defects, including brain, nervous system, eyes,
ears, palate, teeth, heart, feet, nipples, and genitalia. Published literature
and EPA documents contain reports that identify similarities in defects found
in test animals and children exposed to chlorpyrifos.
Clark Environmental Mosquito Management, Inc., the maker, applicator and
distributor of Mosquitomist, is traversing the country selling its popular
mosquito control spray, which contains the neurotoxic chlorpyrifos. While EPA
retained the public health mosquito use for chlorpyrifos after banning home
and garden uses in June 2000, continued exposure to this organophosphate,
especially in combination with other pesticides to which children are exposed,
presents a health risk that public health advocates say is simply unnecessary
in light of viable mosquito prevention programs that are being used
successfully in towns across the United States.
Synthetic pyrethroids, such as sumithrin (Anvil) and permethrin, another class
of toxic pesticides that are widely used for mosquito control, have irritant
and sensitizing properties. Because of the similarities to crude pyrethrum,
pyrethroids may act as dermal or respiratory allergens. Contact dermatitis and
asthma-like reactions to exposure have been documented. Acute exposure can
result in nasal stuffiness, headache, nausea, incoordination, tremors,
convulsions, facial flushing and swelling, and burning and itching sensations.
The most severe exposures, documented in infants, can result in excitation and
convulsions leading to paralysis, accompanied by muscular fibrillation and
diarrhea. Death can occur due to respiratory failure. Permethrin, a possible
human carcinogen, has also been linked to disruption of the endocrine system,
introducing a range of effects that adversely affect childhood development,
sexual traits, and chronic effects later in life.
Last changed: March 14, 2006