- Pesticides used to control mosquitoes may cause harm to some residents
|
By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Could pesticides used to keep mosquitoes from proliferating in Juab County actually be causing harm to some of the residents?
The mosquito abatement program has been using a pesticide that is made from chrysanthemums and some people are allergic to the spray. In addition, the abatement program calls for the spray to be used in each of the communities two times each week.
"I have a concern about what is happening to my daughter," said Blaine Malquist.
His daughter is a victim of Lime disease and suffers from neuropathy.
The pesticides used to fight against mosquitoes may be fighting her weakened system.
One of his objections, he said, was that his daughter gets worse in the summertime. Worst of all, however, is that no one knew that the towns in the county were being sprayed on a twice-weekly basis.
At the very least, people need to be told that spraying is being done that often.
There is also not a regular schedule for the spraying so it is difficult to be told in advance.
"There has to be an inversion when the spraying is done," said Mike Seely, county administrator.
The pesticide is wasted if there is wind. For that reason, it is not always easy to plan ahead and make a schedule up of the nights when the spraying will take place.
However, it would be possible to let people know that spraying was being done. No one knew what was happening, said Malquist. The community had not been informed.
Only because one of his other daughters had seen the truck spraying, had he had investigated and found out that the spraying was being done that often. He also began taking strategic methods of dealing with it.
Their swamp air conditioner had broken and they had been sleeping with the windows open at night before they discovered that the spray was being used during the night. Now, in order to avoid the spray, they are keeping their windows closed and are using an electric unit which filters the air.
"We also don't put our laundry outside to dry," he said.
Each year, he said, his daughter's condition worsens in the summer. Each summer it gets worse.
When he was a small child in California, in the Los Angeles area, a mineral oil spray was used and was found to be effective. That was a much safer spray to use around people.
Malquist explained that Pyrethrum ("pie-wreath-rum") is a natural insecticide made from the flowers of certain species of the chrysanthemum plant. It is a mixture of several different compounds called pyrethrins and cinerins. Pyrethrum is extracted with solvents and is widely used in household insect sprays where it is usually combined with another chemical called piperonyl butoxide (PBO). However, because natural pyrethrum is not stable in sunlight it is seldom used in commercial agriculture.
Pyrethrum is a relatively low toxicity natural insecticide and since it breaks down quickly, generally has low environmental impact as well. For these reasons it enjoys a reputation of being "safe." Pyrethroid insecticides, on the other hand, are generally more toxic, more environmentally persistent and therefore not as "safe."
Unfortunately, he said, some marketers continue to claim that pyrethroid insecticides like permethrin are "made from chrysanthmum flowers" implying that they are "natural and safe."
Permethrin ("per-meth-rin") is one of a group of man-made insecticides, whose chemical structure is based on natural pyrethrum. These so-called pyrethroid insecticides were developed to match or exceed the effectiveness of natural pyrethrum but be more stable in sunlight. Whereas natural pyrethrum breaks down in as little as 12 hours, pyrethroids are long-lasting, sometimes remaining effective for more than 30 days. Pyrethroid insecticides are used in agriculture because of their stability in sunlight.
Permethrin has many uses from landscape pest control to head lice shampoos, flea, tick and mosquito control. Permethrin is relatively low toxicity it is, however, highly toxic to cats and some other animals.
"Spray used for mosquitoes does kill bees," said Malquist. "I wonder if we are contributing to the loss of bees."
There are very few bees left in the Nephi area to pollinate plants.
It also kills insects that kill the mosquitoes, he said. The mosquitoes that survive are becoming more spray resistant and he wondered if we were breeding super mosquitoes.
Another concern was that, with a 12-hour life for the safest spray, people would go into the garden and pick produce early in the morning. They might just rub the tomato off and eat it. Once ingested, the spray can be a problem for many people.
"I don't have the solution," said Malquist. "There may be others who are having problems because of the spray who have not made the connection. But there is a balance."
"It is nice to go outside at night and not get bitten," said LuWayne Walker, commissioner.
Mike Seely, county administrator, said that the county is part of the Utah Mosquito Abatement Association. Because the county is a member, it can purchase sprays in bulk at a lesser cost.
"We don't use Malathion, an organophosphate insecticide," said Seely.
Perhaps a buffer could be set up around the home of Malquist. In addition, there could be a notification posted on the county website.
For many years, said Malquist, he has practiced organic gardening. He has used the Praying Mantis egg cases and does not spray for insects but uses natural means to control them.
He does have a fish pond with about 75 fish. For that, he uses Bacillus Thuringiensis Mosquito Dunk. A dunk kills mosquito larvae for 30 days or more. Mosquito Dunks float on water and slowly release a long-term, biological mosquito larvicide at the water's surface. This larvicide gradually settles in the water where it is eaten by mosquito larvae growing there. Mosquito Dunks may be used in all types of standing water sites where mosquito larvae grow. Alternate wetting and drying will not reduce their effectiveness.
Mosquito Bits are a similar product but work quickly and have a short (48 hour) residual.
|
