Home: CCE Logo Slogan: Empowering Communities, Advocating Solutions.
About CCE/ContactWhat's New/CalendarNewsletterMedia/News CenterJobsContribute Now
Subscribe For Email Updates
Take Action!
Campaign Information, by Category:
Water ProtectionPublic Health and Toxic Chemical ContaminationOpen Space and Wildlife HabitatClimate Change and Energy PolicyLegislative Campaigns
 

CAMPAIGNS

The “Last Resort” Recommendation to Use Toxic Pesticides

Image of kids playing outdoors.Over the past several years, a better understanding and appreciation of the WNV disease has caused its risk to humans to be downgraded. For example, children are no longer considered to be in the high-risk category. At the same time, a heightened appreciation for the harm caused by widespread spraying of pesticides has occurred. Accordingly, state and local agencies agreed that the aerial and ground spraying of pesticides to kill adult mosquitoes should only be considered as a "last resort."

However, Suffolk County, NY has continued an aggressive campaign to kill mosquitoes throughout the summer, ignoring the "last resort" philosophy, and spraying numerous times in the name of nuisance control. As part of their mosquito control program, Suffolk County used both ground and aerial pesticide spraying.

In addition, during the summer of 2002, the media quoted Suffolk Department of Health representatives on several occasions as stating that the pesticides were safe. Pesticide manufacturers are not permitted by law to claim that pesticides are safe. CCE believes that the Suffolk Health Department should hold themselves to the same high standard. Claiming that pesticides are safe is a breach of public trust and could potentially be dangerous to some sensitive members of the public.

Of the 150 species of mosquitoes present in the United States, only a small number of species are suspected of involvement in WNV and only one, the Culex pipiens, or common house mosquito, is the central focus of WNV control. The vast majority of mosquitoes are not involved with WNV. In addition to WNV, Suffolk County has operated nuisance mosquito control programs around coastal areas.

Many individuals have expressed concern over the possible health effects to humans and wildlife from pesticide exposure. There are documented effects that people may exhibit after exposure to pesticides. The combined effects of multiple pesticide exposures are not well studied or understood. Similarly, wildlife are very sensitive to a number of the pesticides used for WNV and nuisance spraying. Crabs, lobsters and other crustaceans as well as butterflies, frogs, fish, dragon flies and birds are vulnerable to the pesticides commonly used against mosquitoes. The data from last year found that more of the birds tested for WNV died from pesticide poisoning than disease. The pesticides responsible were common lawn and garden pesticides.