Mosquito spray debate sought

Concerned that aerial spraying of urban populations with pesticides to combat West Nile virus is neither effective nor safe, two Sacramento council members will push for a series of town hall meetings to spur debate on the practice.

The council learned Thursday night that it doesn't have the legal authority to opt out of spraying.

Instead, City Attorney Eileen Teichert said the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District has the sole authority to make that decision.

"It's amazing to me that when we're dealing with spraying toxins that there isn't a public vote; there is no public process," City Councilman Rob Fong said.

After the meeting, Fong said he and Councilman Ray Tretheway had decided to begin meeting with local leaders throughout the Sacramento and Yolo region, and will begin to organize public meetings. State legislative changes also may be considered, he said.

Mosquito abatement officials, in a briefing to the council, said they believe aerial spraying is a useful way to help fight the virus. However, when questioned by council members, they conceded it's the least effective tool they have.

"It's the last-ditch thing," said Dave Tamayo, president of the mosquito abatement board. Aerial spraying was conducted for three nights last week over northern Sacramento County.

State health officials have reported five deaths linked to West Nile virus -- in all, 80 confirmed cases of humans infected with the virus. The Sacramento-Yolo district has reported three human cases, and last week the governor listed the area as "high risk" for the West Nile virus.

During the meeting, resident Joan B. Lee said she supports the spraying and recounted how her son is suffering from West Nile virus.

"At the hospital, he was unable to say who he was, the time of day, and (he) didn't recognize his mother," Lee said, her voice choking with emotion. "One life is too many to lose for West Nile virus."

The pesticide used by the district, EverGreen Crop Protection EC 60-6, contains toxic ingredients such as pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide, or PBO. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has classified PBO as a "possible" cancer-causing agent that targets the liver.

David Brown, manager of the mosquito abatement district, and Glennah Trochet, Sacramento County's public health officer, said people were exposed to very low dosages during aerial spraying and the health risk was minimal. "Pesticides are an American way of life," Trochet said.

No studies on long-term health effects on people or animals have been conducted, and none is in the works, Trochet said.

"The amounts people are exposed to are so low that it's almost not worth the money," she said.

Health officers in other areas aren't as certain that the practice is safe.

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.

In testimony before the council, critics said it's not uncommon for scientists to discover that chemicals once thought to be safe are harmful. They noted the nation's capital's decision to opt out of spraying. "Sacramento, the capital of the great state of California, should follow suit," said Kim Glazzard of Organic Sacramento.

"If this is not a good practice, we deserve to know that," Fong said.

West Nile virus is spread through the bite of infected mosquitoes, which feed on infected birds. The vast majority of people infected will never know it, while a small percentage will experience a lingering flulike condition with a high fever and body aches. An even smaller number will suffer meningitis, encephalitis, partial paralysis and even death.

About the writer:

• The Bee's Terri Hardy can be reached at (916) 321-1073 or thardy@sacbee.com.