Spraying Deception Across the Bay Area
Outrage in the Bay Area against the planned apple moth spraying continued today, with a protest in Marin County. Although there is no present danger to crops from the apple moth, the State plans to spray in heavily populated areas this summer – to include Marin, San Francisco, and the East Bay.
Spraying of this pesticide, called Checkmate, was set to begin in August and could continue over five years. The State obtained an emergency exemption from registration with the EPA - which means that spraying can begin without statewide approval. If the apple moth were to gain ground, it could be devastating to many different types of crops, such as fruit trees, citrus and grapes. But the residents of Monterey and Santa Cruz counties who were sprayed last year contend that the health risks outweigh the risks to crops. After these areas were sprayed from September to December, hundreds of residents complained about health issues ranging from headaches to coughing and wheezing, and first time asthma attacks.
State officials contend that the spray is perfectly safe, and that it is just a pheromone that confuses the male apple moths. Residents contend that the testing was hurriedly done and not conclusive. Based on the furor over this moth, Governor Schwartzenegger ordered a halt to spraying back in April until the spray could be proven safe. The California Assembly also narrowly approved a measure in late May mandating that an EIR – or “environmental impact report” be done before spraying could continue.
The facts are that hundreds had health issues the last time spraying was done, and these sprayings occurred over less densely populated areas. The chemical used has not been classified by the EPA. And some independent researchers have found that the chemical CAN cause respiratory issues based on the particle sizes in the spray – some of which are small enough to lodge deep in the lungs. Spraying would have to be done every 30 days for years in order to completely eradicate the apple moth. I see no tests showing the long term impact of this chemical on human health, or on other crops for that matter.
Most Bay Area cities, including San Francisco and Fremont, have strongly opposed the scheduled August spraying. Many residents say they will move if spraying continues. What will this do to a state already beseiged by foreclosures and empty homes?
I think our lawmakers need to think about the potential impact to the tax base if many people leave, or become ill – a concern that should be dwarfed by the real human issues here; the health of the people and the land.
