Professor
Pace University
Dept. of Biological Sciences
"Although it continues to be a major concern to local and federal health officials, the West Nile virus causes FEW serious health effects in the general population. The elderly are most at risk for developing severe infection."
The usual notice was given to community members to close all doors and windows and cover children's toys, etc.
However, spraying just along Pleasantville Road in Briarcliff Manor would expose early morning deliveries of bread and newspapers outside the local markets
In addition, a children's play area with swings, sandbox, etc., are within 20 feet of Pleasantville Road, along with the municipal swimming pool and Law Park.
All of these areas are within the 300 feet fogging zone.
I would like to point out that this one example of one road in one village must be magnified by the other examples of similar bread and paper deliveries and children's play areas in other towns and villages being sprayed.
Briarcliff Manor is known as the village between two rivers - the Hudson River and the Pocantico River. While spraying the Hudson River can be avoided with careful management, spraying of the Pocantico River cannot be avoided.
Ultimately, the Pocantico River flows into the Hudson River.
In the same article from the EPA quoted above: -"---EPA has established specific precautions on the label to reduce such risks (toxic to fish and bees), including restrictions that prohibit the direct application of products to OPEN WATER or within 100 feet of lakes, streams, rivers or bays."
In addition, there are a number of sensitive wetlands off many of the streets and roads in Briarcliff Manor.
The reason for spraying Briarcliff Manor - one dead red tailed Hawk (testing positive for west nile virus).
Again I would like to point out that because a bird tests positive does not mean the virus was the cause of death.
I am a trained Pharmacologist/Toxicologist who has expertise in the area of pesticides/insecticides and many other chemicals.
I deplore the haphazard spraying simply to try and reduce the number of mosquitoes in an area.
This month of July, 2000 has been one of the coldest and wettest in recent memory.
The storm drains, with applied larvicides, have been overwelmed and larvicide must be reapplied.
The overflow from many of the storm drains has flooded local roads and some lawns.
Has the Health Department investigated this phenomenon?
The answer is NO.
An area covering Briarcliff Manor with its' heavy wooded areas, wetlands, creeks, rivers, etc., are perfect breeding areas for mosquitoes.
Will the County officials begin spraying these areas as well?
From a scientific point of view the application of the larvicides, insecticides and other chemicals in Westchester County, New York City, and other areas WILL provide the missing data on the effects of insecticides on human populations.
Is this what we have come to - exploiting science information gathering - under the guise of a supposed health scare.
Risk-benefit must always be considered. No one wants any deaths from west nile virus but no one wants even a small percentage of nearly 10 million people to be exposed to unnecessary insecticides.
