Pesticides and Harmful Side Effects
Your Right To Opt Out
When my family and I moved to Emmett, Idaho, we were chasing our dream of homesteading and growing our own organic food. The quaint, country town seemed like the perfect escape from city life. However, we soon discovered that Gem County has a Mosquito Abatement District, something we hadn’t known before moving here.
A few years into our homesteading journey, we began to notice some alarming changes. Initially, the fogging seemed sporadic, but gradually, the frequency and intensity of spraying increased. It became impossible to ignore. Our once-thriving garden stopped producing, despite our commitment to organic practices. Our broody ducks could no longer hatch their fertilized eggs, and our chickens started suffering from paralysis, eventually dying.
The real shock came when our own health began to deteriorate. Previously, we were rarely sick, thanks to our holistic lifestyle. But now, we experienced dizzy spells, headaches, nausea, coughing, and major respiratory issues. Desperate for answers, I started investigating the chemicals used by the Gem County Mosquito Abatement District. After much persistence, I finally obtained the chemical labels and safety data sheets. What I found was horrifying.
The weekly fogging in Gem County involves the use of Permethrin, a chemical with a 300-foot swath. Our one-acre property is surrounded on three sides by roads and driveways where the abatement trucks spray. According to the National Pesticide Information Center, Permethrin can cause lung irritation, difficulty breathing, headaches, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. It lingers on plant leaves for 1-3 weeks and can remain in produce for 30-120 days after application. Moreover, it is highly toxic to cats, dogs, fish, and bees.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, we had chickens that were getting paralysis and couldn’t walk and ended up dying. But the big kicker was that fact that our family started to have serious health issues. Prior to moving here we were rarely ever sick. We are a holistic-minded family and work very hard at being as healthy as possible. We started having dizzy spells, headaches, nausea, coughing and major respiratory issues, which we still continue to have today. That’s when I started digging and discovered that the Gem County Mosquito Abatement uses harmful chemicals to abate. After much research and hassle with the Gem County Abatement Board, they finally released to me the chemical labels and safety data sheets. Most of the chemicals have trade secret ingredients, which means no one really knows what’s in the chemicals and the side effects that they may have. I was in shock!
What I discovered is that the abatement truck fogging that is done weekly, sometimes twice a week, here in Gem County all summer long uses Permethrin to kill adult mosquitoes. This chemical has a 300ft swath. My one acre property gets it on all 3 sides because they abate every road and driveway. According to the National Pesticide Information Center, Permethrin is harmful if breathed in. It causes irritation of the lungs, nose, difficulty breathing, headaches, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. It also stays on plant leaves for 1-3 weeks and studies have shown trace amounts of Permethrin in produce 30 – 120 days after planting. It also effects cats, dogs and is highly toxic to fish and bees.
The Alarming Truth About PermaSense 4-4 and Mosquito Abatement Chemicals
Here are some concerning realities surrounding PermaSense 4-4 and the chemicals used in mosquito abatement programs. Firstly, let’s address the elephant in the room: PermaSense 4-4, a product designed to combat mosquitoes, is actually prohibited for use in Florida, according to its own product label. This begs the question: why would a state known for its warm climate and mosquito prevalence ban such a product? The answer lies in the concerning ingredients it contains. One of the key components of PermaSense 4-4 is Petroleum Distillate, a substance that is insoluble, meaning it does not dissolve in water. Instead, it settles in the sediment of lakes, ponds, and rivers, potentially causing long-term environmental damage.
But that’s not all – Petroleum Distillate has been linked to respiratory issues, dizziness, headaches, vomiting, and skin and eye irritation, raising serious concerns about its impact on human health. If that wasn’t alarming enough, the abatement process itself employs a staggering array of up to nine different chemicals, some classified as adulticides (targeting adult mosquitoes) and others as larvicides (targeting mosquito larvae). These chemicals are applied through various methods, including quad or aerial drones, truck fogging, and aerial planes, blanketing vast areas with potentially harmful substances.
One of the most concerning chemicals used in this process is Naled (Dibrom), a known carcinogen that is aerially sprayed from planes. Dibrom breaks down into Dichlorvos, another carcinogenic compound. According to the International Agency for Research on Carcinogens, laboratory tests have shown that Dichlorvos can cause leukemia and pancreatic cancer, raising grave concerns about the long-term health implications of exposure to these chemicals.
Sources:
- Product Label for PermaSense 4-4
- Environmental Impact of Petroleum Distillates
- Health Effects of Petroleum Distillates
- Mosquito Abatement Chemicals and Methods
- Carcinogenic Effects of Naled and Dichlorvos
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the aerial spraying of Dibrom can travel up to one-half mile from the application site, potentially exposing a vast area to its toxic effects. The agency further warns that Dibrom is moderately to highly toxic to birds and fish, posing a severe threat to the delicate ecosystems it touches.But the dangers don’t stop there. In tests conducted on birds, Dibrom has been shown to reduce egg production and hatching success, potentially disrupting the fragile balance of nature. Similarly, growth tests on fish have revealed the detrimental effects of this chemical, casting a dark shadow over the health of our aquatic environments.
As an organophosphate, Dibrom’s impact on human health is equally concerning. Exposure to this chemical can lead to a nightmarish array of symptoms, including headaches, muscle twitching, nausea, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, depression, seizures, and even loss of consciousness. These effects are not mere inconveniences but potentially life-threatening conditions that demand our utmost attention. Adding to the growing list of concerns is the presence of Naphthalene in Dibrom.
According to the EPA, Naphthalene is classified as a possible human carcinogen, and the state of California has included it on its Proposition 65 list of known carcinogens, further underscoring the grave risks associated with this chemical.Sources:
- EPA Fact Sheet on Naled (Dibrom)
- Environmental Impact of Naled on Birds and Fish
- Health Effects of Organophosphates
- EPA Classification of Naphthalene as a Possible Carcinogen
- California Proposition 65 List of Carcinogens
After all this research and knowing that my family and property have been having harmful side effects, I decided to contact the Gem County Abatement and tell them I do not want to be fogged or sprayed. I was met with great opposition by the manager of GCMAD. I was told that these chemicals are safe and effective and they are spraying according to the EPA safety levels. I explained my concerns along with other people who are having similar issues. We even attended a GCMAD meeting to express our concernment of the side effects from these chemicals. The board cut us off when we were talking, and GCMAD has an attorney that told us that we are no longer allowed to ask questions about the chemicals.
Since that meeting last September the GCMAD board has not addressed our questions.
After continued emails to the manager of the GCMAD we were told that we can opt out of abatement if we filled out their form. I read their form and felt it was far overreaching concerning my property rights. They proceeded to present the Idaho Law to me saying they have every right to come onto my property.
Idaho’s Mosquito Abatement Laws Spark Debate Over Public Health and Private Property Rights
Many Idahoans are voicing concerns over the state’s mosquito abatement laws, citing potential conflicts between public health measures and personal liberties, including property rights. The controversy centers around Title 39-2804, which grants abatement districts broad authority to conduct mosquito control measures, even on private property. According to the law, abatement districts have the power to “come on [one’s] land and abate” mosquitoes, with limited options for property owners to opt-out.
While residents can choose to forgo adulticide truck fogging and larvicide treatments, they are reportedly prohibited from opting out of aerial spraying, a practice that has raised concerns among some citizens.”I was told that by no means are we allowed to opt out of aerial spray,” said Emmett resident who has been researching the issue. “This law seems to conflict with our constitutional rights to protect our property and secure our safety.”
The Idaho Constitution, Article 1, guarantees the right of “enjoying and defending Life, Liberty; acquiring, possessing and protecting property; pursuing happiness and securing safety.” However, Title 39-2804 appears to grant abatement districts the authority to monitor private property and conduct treatments if deemed necessary, regardless of the owner’s wishes.”By signing the abatement district’s form and agreeing to Title 39, they essentially have the right to come onto my land and abate, even if I’ve opted out,” Doe explained. “This raises concerns about government overreach.”Critics of the law also point to potential trespassing concerns, citing Idaho’s Trespass Law, Title 18-7008, which defines trespassing as “entering upon or over real property either in person or by causing any object, substance or force to go upon or over real property.” Aerial spraying, they argue, could be interpreted as a form of trespassing. Environmental concerns have also been raised, with some arguing that the indiscriminate elimination of insects disrupts delicate ecosystems and could lead to unintended consequences. Additionally, the potential contamination of groundwater and soil from chemical treatments has sparked fears about long-term health risks. Despite repeated attempts to engage with state officials, representatives, and local authorities, concerned citizens like Doe have encountered resistance and closed doors.As the debate intensifies, calls for transparency, public discourse, and potential amendments to Title 39-2804 are growing louder. The clash between public health measures and personal liberties promises to be a contentious issue in the coming months.
Sources:
A Call to Action for Idahoans: Embracing Knowledge and Safeguarding Our Future
Fellow Idahoans, the time has come for us to heed the lessons of history and take a stand against the potential perils that lurk in the shadows of our mosquito abatement practices. We cannot afford to remain complacent, for the consequences of inaction could be dire.Let us not forget the cautionary tale of DDT, a pesticide once heralded as a safe and effective solution, only to be banned by the EPA in 1972 due to its devastating effects on the environment, wildlife, and human health. The scars left by this chemical serve as a grim reminder of the price we pay for ignorance and blind trust.
We cannot, in good conscience, wait another 50 years to uncover the potential side effects of the chemicals currently in use. To do so would be to gamble with the well-being of our communities, our children, and the very land that sustains us.
Knowledge, as Rachel Carson so eloquently stated, is power. “It is the public that is being asked to assume the risks that the insect controllers calculate. The public must decide whether it wishes to continue on the present road, and it can do so only when in full possession of the facts.”
Idahoans, we have an obligation to demand transparency, to seek out the truth, and to make informed decisions that prioritize our health, our safety, and the preservation of our natural wonders. We cannot turn a blind eye to the potential consequences of the chemicals raining down upon our properties, seeping into our soil, and contaminating the very air we breathe.In the words of Jean Rostand, “The obligation to endure gives us the right to know.”
We have endured enough uncertainty, enough closed doors, and enough dismissal of our concerns. It is time to raise our voices, to demand answers, and to chart a new course – one that embraces sustainable practices, responsible stewardship, and a unwavering commitment to the well-being of our communities and our environment.Let us not be remembered as the generation that stood idly by, ignoring the lessons of the past. Instead, let us be the catalysts for change, the torchbearers of knowledge, and the guardians of a future where our children can thrive without fear of unseen dangers.
Idahoans, the time to act is now. Join me in this call to action, for together, we can forge a path toward a safer, healthier, and more sustainable tomorrow.
