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Inefficacy and Risks Inefficacy and Risks of Adulticiding for of Adulticiding for

West Nile VirusWest Nile VirusPresented to:

Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District

Board of Trustees, Staff, and Community

By: Parents for a Safer Environment and Supporters

PfSE is a grass-roots, volunteer groupPfSE is a grass-roots, volunteer group

Director: Susan JunFish, MPH, BSDirector: Susan JunFish, MPH, BS Steering Committee:Steering Committee:

Susan JunFish, Cynthia Mantel, Roxanna Hariri, Carol Susan JunFish, Cynthia Mantel, Roxanna Hariri, Carol Shenon, Rita Smith, Jane ZhaiShenon, Rita Smith, Jane Zhai

Advisory Board: Advisory Board: Sophia Chernikova, PhD, Stanford Oncology (cancer) Sophia Chernikova, PhD, Stanford Oncology (cancer)

ResearcherResearcher Naresh Duggal, MS, Santa Clara County IPM ManagerNaresh Duggal, MS, Santa Clara County IPM Manager Jeremy Fish, MD, Physician & U.C. Davis Professor of Medicine Jeremy Fish, MD, Physician & U.C. Davis Professor of Medicine Susan Kegley, PhD, Chemist & Senior Scientist, PANNASusan Kegley, PhD, Chemist & Senior Scientist, PANNA Ken Maderra, MS, & Larry Chen, MS, Computer AnalystsKen Maderra, MS, & Larry Chen, MS, Computer Analysts Myrto Petreas, PhD, MPH, Cal/EPA Scientist & ResearcherMyrto Petreas, PhD, MPH, Cal/EPA Scientist & Researcher Debbie Raphael, MS, Toxics Reduction Manager, S.F. County Debbie Raphael, MS, Toxics Reduction Manager, S.F. County Margaret Reeves, PhD, Ecologist & Senior Scientist, PANNAMargaret Reeves, PhD, Ecologist & Senior Scientist, PANNA Chris Geiger, PhD, Entomologist, S.F. Dept of EnvironmentChris Geiger, PhD, Entomologist, S.F. Dept of Environment Cynthia Russell, MD, Oncology SurgeonCynthia Russell, MD, Oncology Surgeon Stephen Scholl-Buckwold, PhD, Director of PANNAStephen Scholl-Buckwold, PhD, Director of PANNA Joan Reiss, RN, Consultant for Breast Cancer FundJoan Reiss, RN, Consultant for Breast Cancer Fund

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Mission StatementMission Statement

Protect the Healthy Development Protect the Healthy Development of the Most Vulnerable of the Most Vulnerable

Population, including the Fetus Population, including the Fetus and Children, from Preventable and Children, from Preventable

Environmental HazardsEnvironmental Hazards

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Presentation will Address :Presentation will Address :

Inefficacy of AdulticidesInefficacy of Adulticides Human Health Risks from Human Health Risks from

AdulticidingAdulticiding

Ecosystem Risks from Ecosystem Risks from

AdulticidingAdulticiding

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Harvard Study on Harvard Study on Efficacy, 2006Efficacy, 2006

Do Mosquito #’s Do Mosquito #’s Decrease after Decrease after Adulticiding as Adulticiding as Compared to Controls?Compared to Controls?

3 Different Suburban 3 Different Suburban Neighborhoods in MA.Neighborhoods in MA.

Truck-based Ultra Low Truck-based Ultra Low Volume (ULV) SprayingVolume (ULV) Spraying

Adulticiding Pesticide Adulticiding Pesticide Used: ResmethrinUsed: Resmethrin

Sprayed at peak flight Sprayed at peak flight time, 2 hours after time, 2 hours after sunset.sunset.

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Harvard Study on Harvard Study on Efficacy, 2006Efficacy, 2006

Tested on Free Mosquitoes, Not Tested on Free Mosquitoes, Not CagedCaged

Studied Reproductive Activity Studied Reproductive Activity Difference instead of infection Difference instead of infection rates.rates.

Females that had a Blood Meal, Females that had a Blood Meal, and may Carry West Nile virus and may Carry West Nile virus will Attach to the “Ovitrap” to Lay will Attach to the “Ovitrap” to Lay Eggs.Eggs.

Counted (eggs in clumps) in Counted (eggs in clumps) in Ovitraps Laid before & after Ovitraps Laid before & after Spray. Spray.

Counted at Least 2 Days Prior to Counted at Least 2 Days Prior to and Up to 2 Weeks After Spraying.and Up to 2 Weeks After Spraying.

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Harvard Efficacy Study Harvard Efficacy Study ConclusionConclusion

About as many eggs were deposited About as many eggs were deposited by each species of mosquito before by each species of mosquito before adulticiding as afterwards, similar to adulticiding as afterwards, similar to the non-treated neighborhoods.the non-treated neighborhoods.

“…“…ULV applications of resmethrin ULV applications of resmethrin had little or no impact on Culex had little or no impact on Culex vectors or WNV, even at maximum vectors or WNV, even at maximum permitted rates of application...we permitted rates of application...we conclude that insecticidal aerosoles conclude that insecticidal aerosoles dispersed from the road may not dispersed from the road may not effectively reduce the force of effectively reduce the force of transmission of WNV.”transmission of WNV.”

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What’s In a Pesticide?What’s In a Pesticide? Active IngredientsActive Ingredients

Kill or repel living thingsKill or repel living things..

Inert IngredientsInert Ingredients Make up >95% of most pesticides Make up >95% of most pesticides US EPA: “all inert ingredients are not non-toxic”US EPA: “all inert ingredients are not non-toxic”

Contaminants & Breakdown ProductsContaminants & Breakdown Products These can be more toxicThese can be more toxic

Only Active Ingredients are required to be labeled Only Active Ingredients are required to be labeled although the other ingredients can be more toxic.although the other ingredients can be more toxic.

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Health Effects of Health Effects of PesticidesPesticides

Acute Acute asthmaasthma nauseanausea headaches headaches rashesrashes dizzinessdizziness aching jointsaching joints flu-like symptomsflu-like symptoms mental disorientation/ mental disorientation/

inability to concentrateinability to concentrate respiratory problemsrespiratory problems

ChronicChronic asthmaasthma cancercancer birth defects & birth defects &

reproductive harmreproductive harm developmental developmental

disabilitiesdisabilities endocrine disruptionendocrine disruption neurological toxicity neurological toxicity development of chemical development of chemical

sensitivitiessensitivities

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Pesticides: A Major Pesticides: A Major Environmental RiskEnvironmental Risk

AsthmaAsthma Reproductive OutcomesReproductive Outcomes CancerCancer DermatitisDermatitis Learning ImpairmentsLearning Impairments Alzheimer’s Alzheimer’s Parkinson’sParkinson’s Chronic Fatigue Chronic Fatigue

SyndromeSyndrome

- CA State Dept of Health Services, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, Data Tracking Program, 2005.

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Most Vulnerable Most Vulnerable PopulationPopulation

Fetus Fetus Infants & Children Infants & Children AdolescentsAdolescents

The Elderly & those The Elderly & those with compromised with compromised immune and nervous immune and nervous systemssystems

Those with allergies, Those with allergies, liver dysfunction, liver dysfunction, sensitivity to chemicalssensitivity to chemicals

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Children More Vulnerable Children More Vulnerable to Toxicsto Toxics

Physiological :Physiological : Eat, drink & breathe more than adults relative to Eat, drink & breathe more than adults relative to

body weight (higher intake)body weight (higher intake) Immature system less able to detoxify and excrete Immature system less able to detoxify and excrete

chemicals as adults canchemicals as adults can Developing organ systems more susceptibleDeveloping organ systems more susceptible

Behavioral :Behavioral : Play on floors and ground where pesticides Play on floors and ground where pesticides

concentrate; get into low accessible areasconcentrate; get into low accessible areas Place hands and things in their mouthsPlace hands and things in their mouths

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Cumulative Effect of Cumulative Effect of PesticidesPesticides

Exposure to very low levels of combined Exposure to very low levels of combined pesticides result in higher toxic effects vs. pesticides result in higher toxic effects vs. single exposures.single exposures.

Toxicity can cumulate across time. Toxicity can cumulate across time. Lab animals are more vulnerable to pesticide Lab animals are more vulnerable to pesticide

exposures later in life when exposed to exposures later in life when exposed to hormone disruptors during developmental hormone disruptors during developmental period. period.

Developmental exposures can cumulate with Developmental exposures can cumulate with other risk factors, such as other toxicants, other risk factors, such as other toxicants, advancing age and genetic background; these advancing age and genetic background; these can also cumulate with exposures. can also cumulate with exposures. ~~ Deborah A. Cory-Slechta, Ph.D.Deborah A. Cory-Slechta, Ph.D.

Director, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences InstituteDirector, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences InstituteUniversity of Medicine, New Jersey and Rutgers UniversityUniversity of Medicine, New Jersey and Rutgers University

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An Adulticide Used: Pyrethroid An Adulticide Used: Pyrethroid FamilyFamily

CCMVCD uses “Scourge”, w/ Resmethrin.CCMVCD uses “Scourge”, w/ Resmethrin. There are ~ 20 Pyrethroids and not all have been There are ~ 20 Pyrethroids and not all have been

studied for Reproductive/Developmental studied for Reproductive/Developmental Toxicity, Hormone Disruption, and Cancer.Toxicity, Hormone Disruption, and Cancer.

Pyrethroids act similarly as organophosphates, Pyrethroids act similarly as organophosphates, targeting the Nervous system. targeting the Nervous system.

Acute Exposure: Asthma and Respiratory Effects Acute Exposure: Asthma and Respiratory Effects Chronic Exposure: Reproductive & Chronic Exposure: Reproductive &

Developmental Damage, Cancer, and Hormone Developmental Damage, Cancer, and Hormone Disruption.Disruption.

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Pyrethroids ToxicityPyrethroids Toxicity CCMVCD applies resmethrin at 1.52 CCMVCD applies resmethrin at 1.52

grams/acre, an amount that appears small. grams/acre, an amount that appears small.

Concentration of resmethrin just prior to Concentration of resmethrin just prior to spraying is in the uM concentration range.spraying is in the uM concentration range.

Breast cancer study of pyrethroids impact Breast cancer study of pyrethroids impact showed uM concentrations triggering showed uM concentrations triggering cancer in cells.cancer in cells.

Wind or failure of the Spraying System Wind or failure of the Spraying System can result in unpredictable deposition of can result in unpredictable deposition of adulticides in higher concentrations than adulticides in higher concentrations than from functioning system.from functioning system.

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Pesticide Residues Pesticide Residues Found in Every Person TestedFound in Every Person Tested

• Average was 13 Pesticides/Person• 50% had 18 different Pesticides • Children had Highest Level Pesticides,

sometimes 200% Higher~ Center for Disease Control, 2003

• 43 of 148 chemicals studied were pesticides.• Pyrethroids were found in most people tested, and were the most common insecticides detected. ~ Center for Disease Control, 2005

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Pattern: Approve Now, Ban 30 Pattern: Approve Now, Ban 30 yrs Lateryrs Later

DDT comes on market in 1940’s DDT comes on market in 1940’s banned in 1972 after 30 yrs of contamination.banned in 1972 after 30 yrs of contamination.

Diazinon & Dursban replace DDT in 1970’sDiazinon & Dursban replace DDT in 1970’sbanned in 2005 for residential application.banned in 2005 for residential application.

Pyrethroid use steps up to replace Pyrethroid use steps up to replace Diazinon & Dursban in 2000’s.Diazinon & Dursban in 2000’s.

Most common insecticide found in spray cans, Most common insecticide found in spray cans, flea control for homes and used by pest flea control for homes and used by pest

control operators.control operators.CA Dept Pesticide Regulation Re-evaluating CA Dept Pesticide Regulation Re-evaluating

due to due to risks to the environment and thus to risks to the environment and thus to people.people.

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Adulticides & Aquatic Adulticides & Aquatic ToxicityToxicity

Pyrethroids are very toxic to water Pyrethroids are very toxic to water organisms that are used as health organisms that are used as health indicators in sediment.indicators in sediment.

Piperonyl butoxide mixed with the Piperonyl butoxide mixed with the wrong, existing pesticides in creeks wrong, existing pesticides in creeks and increased toxicity by 200%.and increased toxicity by 200%.

“…“…interaction of compounds is a interaction of compounds is a whole new issue when doing whole new issue when doing pesticide risk assessments that has pesticide risk assessments that has been largely ignored by been largely ignored by regulators…” Donald Weston, PhD regulators…” Donald Weston, PhD U.C. Berkeley, Dept of Integrative U.C. Berkeley, Dept of Integrative Biology, Env. Toxicology Biology, Env. Toxicology

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Results from U.C. Aquatic Results from U.C. Aquatic Toxicity StudyToxicity Study

CA Dept of Pesticide Regulation has begun CA Dept of Pesticide Regulation has begun re-evaluating 600 pyrethroid-containing re-evaluating 600 pyrethroid-containing products, including adulticides used for products, including adulticides used for mosquito control.mosquito control.

Regulators will have to consider toxicity of Regulators will have to consider toxicity of a product from interactions of chemicals a product from interactions of chemicals already existing in the environment.already existing in the environment.

Interactions of PBO and pesticide residues Interactions of PBO and pesticide residues already existing in human bodies is now already existing in human bodies is now being questioned for more research.being questioned for more research.

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American Medical American Medical

Association Association ““Particular uncertainty exists Particular uncertainty exists regarding the long-term health regarding the long-term health effects of low dose pesticide effects of low dose pesticide exposure… Considering [the] exposure… Considering [the] data gaps, it is prudent … to data gaps, it is prudent … to limit pesticide exposures … and limit pesticide exposures … and to use the least toxic chemical to use the least toxic chemical pesticide or non chemical pesticide or non chemical alternative.”alternative.”~ ~ American Medical Association, American Medical Association, Council on Scientific Affairs, 1997Council on Scientific Affairs, 1997

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Pesticide Safety:Pesticide Safety:U.S. General Accounting U.S. General Accounting

OfficeOffice"The general public receives "The general public receives

limited and misleading limited and misleading information on pesticide information on pesticide hazards and is misled on hazards and is misled on pesticide safety by statements pesticide safety by statements characterizing pesticides as characterizing pesticides as safe or harmless."safe or harmless."

~ ~ U.S. General Accounting Office, 1997. U.S. General Accounting Office, 1997.

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Summary of Adulticide Summary of Adulticide ToxicityToxicity

Known to be of higher risk to public health Known to be of higher risk to public health and environment as compared to larvicides.and environment as compared to larvicides.

Pesticides even at “low doses” are linked to Pesticides even at “low doses” are linked to illnesses such as asthma, hormone illnesses such as asthma, hormone disruption, developmental/reproductive disruption, developmental/reproductive damage, & cancer.damage, & cancer.

The Fetus, Children, the Elderly, and the The Fetus, Children, the Elderly, and the immune-suppressed are the most immune-suppressed are the most susceptible.susceptible.

Leading Researchers, Government, and Leading Researchers, Government, and Professional groups give warnings on Professional groups give warnings on Current Exposures and Discourage Current Exposures and Discourage Adulticiding.Adulticiding.

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Prudent Steps for CCMVCD Prudent Steps for CCMVCD Board Board

Suspend All Adulticiding until Efficacy of Suspend All Adulticiding until Efficacy of Decreasing WNV is Shown and that the Risk Decreasing WNV is Shown and that the Risk from Contracting WNV is Shown to be from Contracting WNV is Shown to be Higher than the Risk from Exposure to the Higher than the Risk from Exposure to the Adulticides.Adulticides.

Increase Work on Larvicing and Public Increase Work on Larvicing and Public Outreach to Provide Improved Controls of Outreach to Provide Improved Controls of Breeding Sites.Breeding Sites.

Provide a Special Public Workshop that Provide a Special Public Workshop that includes Community, CCMVCD Staff and includes Community, CCMVCD Staff and Board members to Discuss and Address Board members to Discuss and Address Adulticiding and Safer Alternatives. Adulticiding and Safer Alternatives.

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Pesticide Info ResourcesPesticide Info Resources UCSF Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit UCSF Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit

(PEHSU): 1-866-827-3478. (PEHSU): 1-866-827-3478. www.ucsf.edu/ucpehsuwww.ucsf.edu/ucpehsu. . Advice to public on pesticide toxicity. Advice to public on pesticide toxicity.

• Comprehensive toxicity info if you have the exact name or US EPA registration # of pesticide: www.panna.org. Click on “PAN Pesticide Database” on left-hand column.

• US EPA funded Pesticide Hotline: 1-800-858-7378 www.npic.orst.edu/index

• Biointegral Resource Center: www.birc.org. Dr. Bill Quarles have reviewed efficacy of

adulticiding from studies around the world, concluding it ineffective.