#1 2010-08-05 19:21:19

On the town web site it says there will be aerial spraying for mosquitoes from 8 pm to 3am. You are supposed to close all your windows and shut off air conditioners.

Does anyone have any info on this? I know they are spraying other areas I can’t believe it will from 8 until 3 to spray Wareham. How long are you suppose to keep your windows closed after they spray? Since they are spraying by plane how do you know if they have passed by so you can open your windows.

I think it is a good thing to spray it would have been nice if they could have given us a more concise time line. I don’t feel like spending the night in an Indian sweat lodge tonight.

Offline

 

#2 2010-08-05 19:36:45

Marny, according to the map (link below) only a portion of Wareham looks like it's going to be sprayed..no sweat lodge for me tonight..(but the visions may come anyway : )

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Department of Public Health
250 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02108-4619




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 3, 2010


FURTHER INFORMATION:
Jennifer Manley   (617) 624-5006



PATRICK-MURRAY ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES SCHEDULE TO PERFORM AERIAL SPRAYING FOR MOSQUITOES IN SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS
Spraying to begin after dusk Wednesday August 4th, weather permitting


BOSTON –        Governor Deval Patrick today announced that aerial spraying against mosquitoes will take place on the evening of Wednesday, August 4th (weather permitting) in selected areas of southeastern Massachusetts. State public health officials, working in conjunction with several other agencies and local public health partners, made the decision to conduct spraying following continued positive tests for eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) in mosquito samples from that part of the state, and have characterized the risk of EEE infection as a serious public health concern at this time.


"Our decision to begin aerial spraying against mosquitoes in the southeastern part of the state is a reflection of the real risk of EEE that we're facing this year," said Governor Patrick. "This is an important step in our fight against mosquito-borne illness, but it's not the only one. I urge residents across the state to take simple, common-sense steps to protect themselves from mosquitoes. These include using bug spray and covering up when outdoors, especially during peak mosquito hours of dusk to dawn."


Spraying of the pesticide will take place after dusk on August 4th in the communities of Acushnet, Berkley, Bridgewater, Carver, Duxbury, Dartmouth, East Bridgewater, Easton, Fairhaven, Freetown, Halifax, Hanson, Kingston, Lakeville, Marion, Mattapoisett, Middleboro, New Bedford, Norton, Pembroke, Plympton, Plymouth, Raynham, Rochester, Taunton, Wareham and West Bridgewater. These areas were chosen based on factors including mosquito sample surveillance findings, environmental observations and weather conditions among others.


The specific pesticide being used in the aerial spraying, the same product already used in ground spraying throughout these communities, is very low in concentration and has been proven safe for humans at these levels.~~


If spraying is delayed due to poor weather conditions, it will be rescheduled later in the week, and public notification processes will begin to inform affected communities.


There are several simple steps that residents in these areas should take in preparation for the aerial spraying:
Keep windows closed and fans off. Shut off air conditioners unless they have a setting for re-circulating indoor air.
Keep pets, livestock and other domestic animals indoors during spraying to minimize their risk of exposure.
Wash any homegrown fruits or vegetables before eating.
If skin or clothes or other items are exposed to the sprayed pesticide, wash with soap and warm water.


“We want to be sure that families and businesses in these areas are fully aware of the timing and location of aerial spraying in their communities,” said Department of Public Health (DPH) Commissioner John Auerbach.~ “We encourage residents in each of these cities and towns to spread the word to their friends and neighbors.”~


“Mosquito-borne diseases threaten not only humans but also our domestic animal population,” said Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR) Commissioner Scott Soares. “We suggest that animals be placed indoors or under shelter during the spraying event and that animal owners empty, clean and refill water containers with fresh water after the spraying event.”


More information on EEE and the use of aerial spraying is available at www.mass.gov/dph


Aerial Spraying for Mosquitoes Map
http://www.wareham.ma.us/Public_Documen … 5B1%5D.pdf

TBW
P-SPAN

Last edited by P-SPAN (2010-08-05 19:37:08)

Offline

 

#3 2010-08-05 20:12:00

Is the spray specifically for mosquitoes. I don't think so. The last time they sprayed..late '90's, I think... there were no insect eating birds for the rest of the season. It was as if the sequel to Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring"....."Silent Summer" .

Nobody talks about the "friendly fire" factor with these massive sprays..... "Yes-iree! ....This here planet was put here for us humans, and any darn bug that gets in our way is reason enough to punish all bugs...and ditto for any bird or animal that eats bugs....Nuke 'em!"

Last week it was skunks; this week it's insects....What are we going to try to destroy to save ourselves next week?  I say "try to destroy" because long after humans have "done themselves in" because of their tragically flawed relationship with their planet.......there will still be the bugs that preceded us by hundreds of millions of years,

Offline

 

#4 2010-08-05 20:41:40

Thank you thank you Dick. I’m running around opening all the windows. Dick I also get visions, sweat lodges or not. I think it is a remnant from the 60's

Wow I haven't heard the name Rachel Carson in years. What is really scary is the disappearance of all the honey bees. There are people who go from crop to crop with their honey bees to pollinate the crops and the honey bees aren’t coming back. They think it is a pesticide that is messing up the way they find their way back to the hives. I can’t remember which pesticide it is but I know it has been banned in Europe. Why is it that Europe bans things before we do?  The people raising the bees are slowly going out of business. People pay attention, no bees no food.

Offline

 

#5 2010-08-05 23:07:00

Dick Wheeler wrote:

Is the spray specifically for mosquitoes. I don't think so.

What are the environmental characteristics and impacts of sumithrin?

Sumithrin is rapidly inactivated and decomposed by exposure to light and air with a half-life of less than one day in the air, and on plants and other surfaces subject to sunlight. It does not dissolve easily in water, and is broken down by microorganisms in streams and water bodies that receive sunlight. Thus, residues in water would not be expected. Because of environmental fate and dilution characteristics and the fact that spraying does not occur over drinking water supply reservoirs, opportunities for exposure via drinking water are not expected. Anvil and other pyrethroid pesticides are toxic to terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates (e.g., dragonflies, beetles) and to fish. However, as the size of the fish pool or pond decreases the risk to the fish increases. The risks to large natural water bodies are minimal. Thus, you may want to cover a small ornamental fish pond in your yard during the night of spraying.

If I am a beekeeper, should I take special precautions to protect them prior to or following aerial spraying?

No. Pyrethroid applications at night will not impact honeybee colonies since honeybees are inside the hives at night.

Frequently Asked Questions About Anvil Spraying To Reduce The Risk of Eastern Equine Encephalitis

TBW
P-SPAN

Offline

 

#6 2010-08-06 07:48:04

p-span thank you thank you this old lady got a great nights sleep because I was able to keep the widows open all night. No visions last night. When I read the original post I thought Dick had posted it so again I want to thank you. I still want to thank Dick just for being Dick.

Offline

 

#7 2010-08-06 10:16:21

Hey! I'm a card carrying tree hugger and fish hugger so I might as well be a knee-jerk bug hugger !   The State's whitewash of the spray reads to me like the description of a new bomb that won't kill civilians, or like saying, "Not to worry, we're only going to kill them once."

On the other hand, if I was a politician, I'd probably hook a ride on the spray plane!  All it would take is one mosquito -caused fatality following a "No Spray" order and I'd be out of office.  I recognize the inevitability of the spray...but I submit that making the decision was not a "no brainer".  There's no such thing as a harmless insecticide.

Now let's get back to designing a "spray" that will selectively remove those two pesky "mosquitoes" from the BOS. Spray Day is April 5th, 2010.

Offline

 

Board footer

warehamwater.cruelery.com