Organic Gardening and West Nile Spraying

[AlexB]

 Is anyone else troubled that we try to grow organic food in our yards so that we don't have to ingest pesticides, and then have the City fog large areas so that all our plants are dosed with permethrin?

In accordance with the City’s West Nile Virus Management policy, the City of Fort Collins will spray for adult mosquitoes between dusk and 1 a.m. on August 30 and September 4. Weather permitting, truck–based fogging will occur primarily in the eastern side of town, as well as a section in northwest Fort Collins and a small area in Larimer County.

What is Permethrin?

Permethrin is a common synthetic chemical, widely used as an insecticide, acaricide, and insect repellent. It belongs to the family of synthetic chemicals called pyrethroids and functions as a neurotoxin, affecting neuron membranes by prolonging sodium channel activation. It is not known to rapidly harm most mammals or birds, but is dangerously toxic to cats and fish.

 

Note the word "rapidly", it is not known to do rapid harm. Permethrin is a possible carcinogen and a suspected endocrine disruptor. Endocrine disruptors interfere with normal hormone function and can contribute to breast and testicular cancer, birth defects, learning disorders, and other problems. Permethrin is particularly toxic to cats and aquatic life.

So back to gardening. I have raspberry plants with tons of raspberries. They are difficult to wash. I should have covered them with sheets but didn't think of it last night. Also leafy crops like kale and chard. Tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers I can hand wash.

I grow organically not just because it's better for the plants and soil, but it's better for me. I'm part of the food web. The insidious thing about low pesticide exposure is that it's effects will accumulate over years.

How effective is spraying at killing targeted mosquitoes and preventing West Nile Virus?

In a 2004 paper, West Nile Virus and Mosquito Control, PhD entomologist David Pimentel of Cornell University writes that "Widespread ULV spraying from ground equipment or aircraft for control of mosquitoes and West Nile virus is relatively ineffective, costly, and has been associated with environmental and public health risks." 
 As to proper control, Pimentel writes "The prime method of control is the elimination of the breeding habitats for larval mosquitoes, such as water accumulating in bird baths, flowerpots, old tires, and other containers."

 What are people's thoughts? I'd be interested in hearing other opinions.
Alex Barnett

 

[Cecily Crout]

I am totally with you on this Alex. We're in the spray area on the west side of Fort Collins, scary stuff. We shut all our windows yesterday, we don't have air conditioning so just had to deal with the heat and stuffiness.

Also, this year the mosquitoes don't seem to be bad at all, maybe because of the dryness, so I would say there's even less reason to spray.

On a side note, mosquitoes love me, so if there are any, even one, I get bitten, but I would still rather we weren't subjected to the spray.

Best regards,

Cecily

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[Vickie Miller Parker]

I live in Longmont and share these thoughts;   Last year, I blamed the wilting of some of my plants on the spraying as I live on a corner and I've seen them make a pass right by my house.    This year, I completed a notification form that I found online, which means I'm suppose to be personally notified whenever they spray---- but that has not happened yet.  We open our windows at night and, speaking from experience, it's bad to have your windows open when they spray---especially if you have fans in the windows.  .  

--
Vickie

[Sue Sullivan]

Yes, Alex, I'm frustrated and angry about the spraying as well. This
has been the least mosquito-y summer in my five years here, and the
first that we have been doused with pesticides. It was a bad call by
Dr. Adrienne Le Bailly, in my opinion.
I too, have a huge amount of raspberry bushes and I wish I had thought
to cover them Thursday night. I will do so tomorrow evening. Thank you
for the idea. Raspberries can't really be washed well, as you note.
All in all, we are still ahead of the game, chemical ingestion-wise,
and I take comfort in that.

[Maureen McCarthy]

I'm very disturbed by this too.  As others have pointed out, we basically haven't had rain this whole summer and I've encountered many fewer mosquitos.  As far as I know there have been no reported cases of west nile in larimer county.  The paper mentioned CA as having the biggest problem.  I think the city should let folks "opt out" by at least not spraying in the yards of people who have asked them not to.  Also, they should not waste our money in this irresponsible way.  Maureen 

[joshua...@gmail.com]

Hello Home Grown Friends,

I wrote a letter to the City of Fort Collins that I was going to submit to the Coloradoan as well today.  If you would like to add your name to the end let me know:

To the city of Fort Collins,

We applaud your recognition of urban agriculture and desire to facilitate its growth with the recent survey released last week.  This growing trend will greatly enhance the quality of life of our town.  We have great potential to become a leader in the sustainable, local agriculture movement for the Front Range of Colorado.  Please take the survey at:

http://www.fcgov.com/developmentreview/urbanagriculture.php

Last week, I received an automated phone call notifying me that the City was spraying for West Nile using a Neurotoxin called Permethrin.  It warned me to close up my house and stay indoors so as to not inhale the chemical.  It also warned me to cover up my garden with a sheet and bring pets inside.  As my garden takes up my entire yard, I did not have the materials or time available to protect my chemical free plants, which are now contaminated.  It is frustrating to think of all of the ripening apple, plum, pear, raspberries, nectarines and peaches, all of the urban chickens and bees, and all of the vegetable gardens around town that have been exposed to this chemical without consent.  According to the EPA, Permethrin is a known carcinogen.

A quick search on Wikipedia will tell you that Permethrin is “controversial because, as a broad-spectrum chemical, it kills indiscriminately; as well as the intended pests, it can harm beneficial insects including honey bees, and aquatic life.”  These beneficial insects are an essential part of our agroecosystems, which would surely fail without them.  Colony Collapse disorder has already lead to the disappearance of tens of billions of bees, which we depend upon to pollinate 1/3 of our food crop each year. 

We believe that we speak for many other concerned growers in asking you to discontinue poisoning our food and neighborhoods immediately.  We have a right to opt out of exposure to chemicals and it should not be forced upon us.

Sincerely,
Josh Metten

Urban Farmer

Rolland Moore West Neighborhood

 

Michael Baute

Spring Kite Farm

Taft and Drake

 

Sue Temple

Homeowner

Essex Drive

 

Sam and Katie Meunier
408 Webb ave.