August 20th 2008 • HOME •
The Question of Pesticides
New York State Pesticide Laws (manual). | Leslie Sharpe statement | NPS allows aerial pesticides | NPS on West Nile Disease
In a long-sought victory for environmental groups (and all of us!) on August 21, 2000, New York State adopted a law requiring public notification before the application of chemical pesticides and herbicides. However, some aspects of the law only take effect if endorsed by county governments. Suffolk County has promised to adopt the most stringent standard. However, local governments are exempt from the notice requirements, and it is unclear how unincorporated villages such as those on Fire Island are affected. But the spirit of the law is clear. Environmental Advocates press release.
For information about any imminent spraying plans on the part of Suffolk County, check the county's web site, or phone (1-631) 852-4939.
Some communities go in for pesticides in a big way; others eschew them. Here is the word from the Board of Directors of the Cherry Grove Property Owners Association (from their May 1999 Newsletter):
"Although the committee formed to review studies on the safety of Malathion-based insecticides reported that it found no evidence in published data of long-term harmful effects to humans or animals, the Board continues to recommend against spraying
"The reason? Generalized spraying is considered to be the least effective way to control mosquito populations, since it has a short life and kills only adult mosquitoes in the immediate area. The suggestion of its use, however, is very effective in producing strong emotional reactions in its proponents and opponents alike. Bottom line? A lot of grief and not much mosquito control.
"The recommendation of the Board is that we mount an educational campaign instead. This would involve, at a minimum, distributing information about mosquito control methods other than spraying. We would also continue to make "dunks" available.
"Individual property owners may choose to use one of several commercially available 'foggers' 20 minutes to one half hour before a planned outdoor activity if mosquitoes do become a problem."
FIEC comment: We applaud the emphasis on education and benign methods, which is most in tune with the National Park Service's approach to the problem.
We would also note that only adult mosquitoes "bite" people, and only adult mosquitoes are killed by pesticides. The positive effect (reduction in number of mosquitoes) only lasts for about a day. But the harm frof pesticides lasts much longer. For example, they kill dragon flies, which would otherwise kill a vast number of mosquitoes during their lifetimes.
But other communities are more aggressive. Fire Island Pines, for example, uses a variety of weapons, the most benign of which is the bacterial agent BCI.
Updated 21 May 2003