Charleston County sucking the life out of mosquito season 

These dangerous poisons are sprayed everywhere in the world - they are poisoning everything and everyone - the only answer to a healthy global population is chemical free means of pest and weed control and organic food production - it's that simple - poisons are poisoning everything and everyone - stop using them - choose and use chemical-free alternatives to everything you can in your lives.

Diana Buckland

MCS-GLOBAL WEBSITE: www.mcs-global.org
Awareness, Education, Information & Recognition of Chemical Injury,
Chemical Hypersensitivity, Chemical Sensitivity/MCS & other
chemically induced illnesses & diseases affecting civilians & military personnel
Global Chemical Pollution & the disastrous effects on human health & environmental health
Cancer and the chemical connection
Kallangur, Queensland, Australia
phone 61+7+32853573
Email: dbucklan@bigpond.net.au or diana@mcs-global.org

How to kill pests without killing yourself or the earth...... There are about 50 to 60 million insect species on earth - we have named only about 1 million and there are only about 1 thousand pest species - already over 50% of these thousand pests are already resistant to our volatile, dangerous, synthetic pesticide POISONS. We accidentally lose about 25,000 to 100,000 species of insects, plants and animals every year due to "man's footprint". But, after poisoning the entire world and contaminating every living thing for over 60 years with these dangerous and ineffective pesticide POISONS we have not even controlled much less eliminated even one pest species and every year we use/misuse more and more pesticide POISONS to try to "keep up"! Even with all of this expensive and unnecessary pollution - we lose more and more crops and lives to these thousand pests every year. We are losing the war against these thousand pests mainly because we insist on using only synthetic pesticide POISONS and fertilizers There has been a severe "knowledge drought" - a worldwide decline in agricultural R&D, especially in production research and safe, more effective pest control since the advent of synthetic pesticide POISONS and fertilizers. Today we are like lemmings running to the sea insisting that is the "right way". The greatest challenge facing humanity this century is the necessity for us to double our global food production with less land, less water, less nutrients, less science, frequent droughts, more and more contamination and ever-increasing pest damage. National Poison Prevention Week, March 18-24,2007 was created to highlight the dangers of poisoning and how to prevent it. One study shows that about 70,000 children in the USA were involved in common household pesticide-related (acute) poisonings or exposures in 2004. At least two peer-reviewed studies have described associations between autism rates and pesticides (D'Amelio et al 2005; Roberts EM et al 2007 in EHP). It is estimated that 300,000 farm workers suffer acute pesticide poisoning each year just in the United States - No one is checking chronic contamination. In order to try to help "stem the tide", I have just finished re-writing my IPM encyclopedia entitled: THE BEST CONTROL II, that contains over 2,800 safe and far more effective alternatives to pesticide POISONS. This latest copyrighted work is about 1,800 pages in length and is now being updated at my new website at http://www.thebestcontrol2.com . This new website at http://www.thebestcontrol2.com has been basically updated; all we have left to update is Chapter 39 and to renumber the pages. All of these copyrighted items are free for you to read and/or download. There is simply no need to POISON yourself or your family or to have any pest problems. Stephen L. Tvedten 2530 Hayes Street Marne, Michigan 49435 1-616-677-1261 "An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come." --Victor Hugo "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." -- Martin Luther King Jr.

Aerial spraying of insecticides for adult mosquitoes is both ineffective and harmful to wildlife and the environment. Sadly, Charleston County Mosquito Control and William Wallace are behind the times in their thinking regarding the aerial spraying of insecticides to control mosquito populations. More and more people and organizations are waking up to the fact that this practice is ineffective at controlling mosquito populations and that the adverse effects on human health, beneficial insects (butterflies, bees, dragonflies and so forth), birds, and aquatic organisms is not worth the paltry benefits. * At the bottom of this message is a sample list of cities and counties that have publicly stated their opposition to aerial pesticide spraying for adult mosquitoes, because of the public health and environmental costs. There are far more out there - the list provided is a small sample. Here are some SCIENTIFIC FACTS for everyone's consideration: - Aerial pesticide spraying for adult mosquitoes is the least efficient mosquito control measure, according to the Centers for Disease Control. - Only a small percentage of mosquitoes in the targeted area are killed by spraying. - Pesticide spraying cannot target just mosquitoes! Also killed are beneficial insects such as butterflies, moths and bees (pollinators). Also dragonflies, damselflies and praying mantis (mosquito predators). Also Ladybugs, spiders, assassin bugs and other beneficial insects that control garden pests. Aerial spraying of pesticides can also harm birds, frogs, toads, tree frogs, fish and other aquatic life. THIS IS BAD! - Mosquito populations may actually increase after pesticide spraying because natural predators such as birds, bats, spiders and dragonflies can also be affected by the pesticides. - Mosquitoes develop resistance to pesticides. - Pesticide spraying can be harmful to people's health because the toxic chemicals that kill insects also affect our bodies. Asthma, emphysema and other respiratory problems are caused by this practice. Such pesticides also harm developing children much more than adults. * List of local governments that have sworn off the outmoded practice of aerial spraying of pesticides for adult mosquitoes: === Washington, DC is one of those governments. In talking about aerial spraying of pesticides for adult mosquitoes, the following article states that: "Washington, D.C., for instance, has opted out of spraying because officials there believe it is ineffective and exacerbates asthma and other respiratory ailments, Peggy Keller, a D.C. health official, said this week." Source: http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/318484.html === The states of Maine, Massachusetts and Connecticut did a study and produced a report on aerial spraying of pesticides for adult mosquitoes. The name of the report is: "Overkill: Why Pesticide Spraying for West Nile Virus May Cause More Harm Than Good.". It concludes that " 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. ==== This article has proof from the field in Los Angeles that aerial spraying for adults is ineffective: http://www.beyondpesticides.org/news/daily_news_archive/2004/08_11_04.htm ==== August 2, 2002 Washington Post article: "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." ==== The following jurisdictions have all publicly stated their opposition to aerial spraying for adult mosquitoes, since it is ineffective and harmful to public health: (note places like Arlington, VA, most of Arkansas, Macon, GA, York County, VA, Fort Worth, TX ...) 0) In 2003, Lyndhurst, Ohio passed an ordinance banning the aerial spraying of pesticides. They concluded that the public health risks and environmental damage of spraying aerial pesticides outdid the harm caused by West Nile virus! 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 newspaper 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. ====

I hope the reader understands that every aspect of this program is based on sound science that has been progressing forward for the last 100 years of mosquito control. The "charcoal" is actually Altosid- a juvenile growth hormone (effecting mosquito and mosquito like insects in thier early stages of development). Any mosquito-like insects (chromatidids or midges) are prolific and soon recover. Naled is generally used as the chief adulticide in the south and has been studied for many years. Labels for these products always indicate the worst scenario. Just look at a tube of toothpaste for instance which says: "Do not swallow. Children under 6 years of age should use only a pea-sized amount and be supervised while brushing". In other words the old adage applies: "The dose makes the poison". All the spraying is not really spray but an atomized applicaton made with a Ultra Low Volume generator or ULV. These machines produce fine droplets generally one-tenth the diameter of a human hair or about 15 microns in size. This makes the droplet selective for only insects the size of mosquiotes. Sea animals are neglibably affected. I have never known any animals (others than mosquitoes) to die from mosquito control unless it gets hit by a mosquito truck. REMEMBER THE RISK FROM MOSQUITO-BORNE DISEASE IS MUCH HIGHER THAN THE RISK FROM THE APPLICATION OF THE CONTROL MATERIALS. BY ACCEPTING THE SMALL RISK OF THE CONTROL MATERIALS WE REDUCE THE MUCH LARGER RISK FROM MOSQUITO BORNE DISEASE AND THE "NUISANCE FACTOR" FROM MOSQUITOES. p.s. I am not connected in any way with Charleston Mosquito Control I am just stating the scientific facts. William E. Wallace