The Suffolk County Department of Public Works’ Division of Vector Control plans to
treat salt marshes in the area of the Sayville Yacht Club today by helicopter to control mosquito larvae.
The spraying activity, which is also taking place in several county areas between 5 a.m. and 8 p.m., involves low altitude, large droplet liquid applicaton of methoprene.
According to a press released issued by the county, the products used by vector control are registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and are applied in accordance with the required State and Federal permits.
The county said no precautions are recommended to prepare for this spraying, as the helicopter will be flying at a very low level over marsh areas and taking other precautions to control drift into inhabited areas. Human exposure from this operation is unlikely and the products involved have no significant human toxicity.
For current and future notices and/or further information contact the Suffolk County Division of Vector Control at 631-852-4270. The Spraying Information Hotline is 631-852-4939.
The "products" name is Scourge. Scourge is an insecticide used to kill adult mosquitoes. Its active ingredients are Resmethrin and piperonyl butoxide which act together to kill mosquitoes. About one-fourth of the Scourge formula is "inert ingredients," including petroleum by-products. Scourge is harmful to both the environment and humans. Ecologically, it is harmful many types of marine life. Its label warns: "THIS PRODUCT IS TOXIC TO FISH AND BIRDS. DO NOT APPLY TO LAKES, STREAMS OR PONDS." There is still much that remains poorly understood about the ecological damage caused by Scourge. According to EPA studies, however, one thimbleful of Scourge is enough to kill the trout in an average one acre shallow pond. Scourge is applied at about three times this rate. Public health is seriously threatened by Scourge. The label of Scourge warns that inhalation is the greatest hazard for humans. "AVOID BREATHING, VAPOR OR SPRAY MIST." Unpublished data by the manufacturer reveal that Resmethrin is cancer-causing, with specific risk of liver and thyroid cancers. Unless homes are air-tight and windows are closed at the time of spraying, all residents living in the vicinity of Scourge applications are at risk from inhalation.