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They are planning on spraying urban areas by plane overnight. Backyards...gardens...BREATHING is effected.
www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi
I'm concerned. Should I be? Do the pros of eliminating moths outweigh this BIG downside?
www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi
I'm concerned. Should I be? Do the pros of eliminating moths outweigh this BIG downside?
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SF Bay Area
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Re: Bay Area urban pesticide spraying
Fri, February 15, 2008 - 3:18 PMI rilly rilly dont like the idea. Why cant we just use more spiders, birds, and mantises?
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Re: Bay Area urban pesticide spraying
Mon, February 18, 2008 - 11:10 AMWell, saying "breathing is affected" is somewhat alarmist. Reading the story, it seems that some very few people were affected. I went to the CFDA (California Dept. of Food & Ag) website, and read up on the materials available there, and it seems that while spraying a pheromone (it's not REALLY a pesticide, as it doesn't even kill the moth, it just disrupts their mating habits) aerially is less than ideal, it's better than the alternative. The alternative being that nothing as useful is done, the moth spreads, and then farmers have to use heavy-duty toxic chemicals to eradicate it more directly. (Not to mention quarantines on sale/transport of crops, etc)
There isn't any literature that I could find that says gardens (or anything, really) is affected by this pheromone. It's a very narrow band of effect, in that it supposedly just fucks with this one particular kind of moth. -
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Re: Bay Area urban pesticide spraying
Mon, February 18, 2008 - 11:31 AMThanks for the reseach HL! I tried looking up online to see if I could substantiate the claims of increased people complaining about asthema attacks, breathing, etc. when it was sprayed in Santa Cruz. But that data wasn't available. I found the same data you did on the moth and how dangerous it can be.
I guess it is better than the alternatives. I still don't like it though. Its the conspiracy theorist in me. -
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Re: Bay Area urban pesticide spraying
Mon, February 18, 2008 - 12:51 PMI really don't think people should be exposed to this shit without their consent. Shit! -
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Re: Bay Area urban pesticide spraying
Mon, February 18, 2008 - 7:29 PMAny time I read something like this:
'The U.S. Department of Agriculture obtained an "emergency exemption from registration" from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that allows the agency to use the pesticide in aerial sprays over California cities. Because of that exemption, the spraying program isn't subject to state approval, according to representatives of the state Department of Pesticide Regulation.'
...I get nervous. Regulatory steps like state approval are in place to protect people from things like DDT, another seemingly harmless pesticide which was sprayed widely until it was found to be toxic.
If the moths pose a threat, spraying may be necessary, but it shouldn't be done until proper research into the health effects on humans have been conducted (at the very least, we know they haven't studied the effects of urban spraying). And the Department of Pesticide Regulation, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and the Public Health Department have already acknowledged that 'high applications' of the compound can cause eye, skin, or respiratory irritations.
But even if the pheremone itself is not dangerous, that doesn't mean that the carrying chemicals in which the pheremone is sprayed aren't (from the article: "The pheromone is not the only chemical in the spray. Checkmate also contains at least 10 other ingredients."). Just the additional particulate matter in the air after spraying could cause respiratory side effects.
Whether or not 'Checkmate' is a hazard, when I read between the lines I see the potential risks to public health being trumped by the potential risks to big business. Wouldn't want to upset all those big agribusiness donors after all. Just another example of the government serving corporate, rather than human, interests. -
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Re: Bay Area urban pesticide spraying
Tue, February 19, 2008 - 8:37 AMInfo on this subject sent to me by Care2.com:
Say NO to Bay Area Aerial Fumigation Without Consent!
Starting as early as June, airplanes will begin spraying pesticides untested for human health safety over Bay Area cities to eradicate the Light Brown Apple Moth. Monterey and Santa Cruz counties have already been sprayed once.
Stop the planes before they spray again and spread to other Bay Area counties.
PLEASE spread the word! Tell your neighbors about the threat and urge them to sign this petition!
The SF Chronicle just announced that a pesticide untested for human health safety will be sprayed over our Bay Area homes this summer in an attempt to eradicate the Light Brown Apple Moth.
Already, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties have been sprayed and hundreds of citizens have reported health problems. Please tell your neighbors to sign this petition protesting the aerial fumigation of Bay Area residents.
Truly horrifying is that, according to StopTheSpray.org, the pesticides currently used (CheckMate OLR-F and LBAM-F) have only undergone short-term tests on rats and rabbits. The manufacturer states, "Long-term studies on the active ingredients have not been done, however, no adverse effects expected."
Although the pesticide label reads, "Harmful if inhaled. Avoid breathing vapor or spray mist," the Mercury News reported that people were out walking in Santa Cruz when the planes started spraying.
Government agencies approving the plan admit that the pesticide could pose a threat to some people, stating "not all health effects can be predicted and because the general population includes susceptible (people), such as children, the elderly and those with chronic diseases, we cannot provide a definitive cause for their symptoms [experienced after the spraying in Santa Cruz and Monterey]."
Sprayings over San Francisco are expected to begin Aug. 1 and other areas to be sprayed as early as June include Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, and Daly City, Colma, Oakland, Piedmont, Emeryville, Albany, El Cerrito, El Sobrante, Tiburon and Belvedere.
Stop the government from spraying citizens with pesticides without consent! Sign this petition and be sure to tell your friends:
go.care2.com/e/.ah9/txYl/xW5n
It only takes a minute! -
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Re: Bay Area urban pesticide spraying
Tue, February 19, 2008 - 12:50 PMMan, I love having representation. Or lack there of in this case...
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