Southeast Neighbors/Gypsy Moth 2009
From Eugene Neighbors
Southeast Neighbors are using this page to collect our latest information on the planned 2009 gypsy moth spraying by the Oregon Department of Agriculture.
Moth Spray Dates (weather permitting) — April 30 (second revision), May 7, May 19—5am start time
3rd btk spray date changed to May 20, 2009. -L
[edit] Update from ODA on Tuesday, 19 May, 2009 - Third and Final Spray Round
From: "Kimberling Diana N" <dkimberl@oda.state.or.us>
Date: May 19, 2009 9:54:03 AM PDT
Subject: gm spray
Hello SE neighbors-The weather forecast is good for tomorrow morning (Wednesday), so we are planning to conduct the Final spray application.
Sincerely, Diana Kimberling
[edit] Update from ODA on Monday, 18 May, 2009 - Third and Final Spray Round
From: Kimberling Diana N <dkimberl@oda.state.or.us> Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 10:10:35 -0700 Subject: spray postponed until Wednesday (May 20, 2009)
Hello SE neighbors - The Final gypsy moth spray is postponed until Wednesday morning, due to the weather forecast for Tuesday morning.
Sincerely,
Diana Kimberling
[edit] Update from ODA on Wednesday, 6 May, 2009 - Second Spray Round
From: Kimberling Diana N <dkimberl@oda.state.or.us> Date: Wed, 06 May 2009 11:18:32 -0700
Hello Kevin and Lisa-Please post on your southeast neighbors website that the gypsy moth spray is being postponed until Friday morning due to weather conditions. Thanks very much. Sincerely, Diana Kimberling
[edit] Update from ODA on Tuesday, 28 April, 2009 - First Spray Round
From: Kimberling Diana N <dkimberl@oda.state.or.us>
Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:30:46 -0700
Kevin and SE Neighbors-ODA is delaying the gypsy moth spray until Thursday morning, due to the weather forecast for rain. Thursday should be a clear day.
Sincerely,
Diana Kimberling (ODA)
[edit] Update from ODA on Monday, 27 April, 2009
Dear Southeast Neighbors:
The gypsy moth spray has been postponed until Wednesday morning, due to the weather forecast for showers. If there are any more changes, we will keep you informed. Thank you very much. Sincerely, Diana Kimberling, ODA
[edit] Neighborhood Discussion Meeting
In addition to the several recent public meetings on this issue, we held a special neighborhood general meeting on May 5, between the first and second spray dates, to compare experiences, share reactions, and catch up on some ongoing coordination.
Southeast Neighbors General Meeting
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 7:00pm to 8:30pm
Hilyard Community Center
Gypsy Moth Discussion & Coordination
[edit] Eugene Gypsy Moth 2009 Documents
Gypsy Moth Aerial Spray Notice 2009.0415 (PDF)
Includes map of spray area. Formal notice sent to residents in the Old Dillard Road area of Southeast Eugene, Oregon by Dr. Helmuth W. Rogg, Program Manager, Insect Pest Prevention and Management, Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA).
Frequently Asked Questions about Gypsy Moth Control Actions in Eugene, Oregon, 2009 (PDF)
This FAQ document was ointly prepared in April, 2009 by Oregon Department of Agriculture, USDA APHIS, Oregon Toxics Alliance, City of Eugene, Lane County Public Health Department and Southeast Neighbors.
DRAFT VERSION of Frequently Asked Questions about Gypsy Moth Control Actions in Eugene, Oregon, 2009 (PDF)
This draft version of the FAQ includes some edits from Southeast Neighbors and the Oregon Toxics Alliance which were left out in the final joint FAQ document.
A Human Rights Assessment of ODA’s Proposed Aerial Gypsy Moth Spray in Eugene, Oregon (PDF)
Prepared for the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) by Environment and Human RIghts Advisory (EHRA) of Yachats, Oregon.
[edit] Neighborhood Comments and Updates
[edit] Information on Reporting Loss Due to Gypsy Moth Spray
You can find information at http://www.forestlanddwellers.org/News/GypsyMothSpray/ReportOfLoss-OregonDeptOfAg-60Days/
You'll find 2 links:
Reportloss will get you a blank form to print and fill out along with instructions.
SampleAndInstructions are just that.
The Sample ROL is partially filled out with information that is very hard for a normal person to get, but is necessary to file a legally adequate form that does preserve people's rights to file a claim later on (within 2 years).
For the sake of balance on the gypsy moth spray issue please visit nosprayzone.org. There you can read the current label for BTK or how to take good precautionary measures to protect your family. No Spray Zone suggests staying away from the spray area for 12 hours the Department of Agriculture has said it is safe to re-enter the area after only 30 minutes. You will also find articles from New Zealand where they are starting to acknowledge that there may be significant health risks and concerns.
This is an issue that has no simple answer as nobody wants to see an infestation of the gypsy moth, however we must insist on finding other less controversial and safer means to rid ourselves of these moths.
I have suggested checking vehicals at the boarder to locate egg sacks the ODA shot this idea down quickly as they feel it too expensive. This boarder inspection would create jobs and save the hidden cost of lost time from work and medical bills when one has medicical complications from BTK exposure. Many people in the Southeast spray area plan to stay away and will be taking time away from work and spending money on motels. There may be law suits. So if one were to factor all of these extra costs caused by the spraying populated areas then a boarder inspection paid by tax payers might not seem to be too expensive.
Eagle Eye
Please check the following websites for recognized scientific information on Btk. It is always important to check your sources before you jump to conclusions. A PhD does not automatically make you an expert in medicine or entomology. I do understand the general concern about the Government and its policies but please believe us that we are not politicians but professionals doing our job based on science. So check out the scientific literature that is peer-reviewed before you make conclusions on Btk. [Where is the peer-reviewed literature? Some of what is offered here may be scientific, but hardly is peer-reviewed. And just because it is scientific does not mean that it is proven. That is what peer-reviews are about - which are lacking in the following information.] You should also talk to the medical and toxicological experts here in Oregon:
1. Daniel L. Sudakin, MD, MPH, FACMT, FACOEM Associate Professor Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology Oregon State University 333 Weniger Corvallis, OR 97331-6502 Phone: (541) 737-8969 Fax: (541) 737-9047 sudakind@ace.orst.edu
Principal Investigator, National Pesticide Medical Monitoring Program
http://oregonstate.edu/npmmp [this page offers no useful links for SE residents to participate.]
2. Dr. Zane Horowitz, OHSU Portland:
Medical director of the Oregon Poison Center at OHSU.
horowiza@ohsu.edu Emergency Medicine OHSU Campus 3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road Portland, OR 97239-3098 Phone: 503 494-7551 Fax: 503 494-6954
3. Dr. Dave Stone, OSU, Environmental and Molecular Toxicology Dave.Stone@oregonstate.edu Dept: EMT (327 Weniger Hall) Phone: 541-737-4433 Fax: 541-737-1097
Please see below more information on Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Btk)
The product we are using, at a ULV rate of 0.5 gal per acre, is not a synthetic chemical but a biological product certified for use in organic farming by the independent Organic Material Review Institute (OMRI) in Eugene (http://www.omri.org/OMRI_who.html). It is a naturally occurring disease specific to caterpillars of moths and butterflies.
Peer-reviewed scientific literature by recognized specialists in the field of toxicology and medicine shows that to date no definitive evidence of adverse health effects due to exposures to Btk have been reported. Bt has been used for more than 50 years.
See the WHO publication ( See http://www.inchem.org/documents/ehc/ehc/ehc217.htm ) and the recent publication by Glare and O'Callaghan, Bacillus thuringiensis: Biology, Ecology & Safety, Wiley & Sons 2000, ISBN 0-471-49630-8; it is a great reference text.
Here are some links to scientific articles from Canada that also reviewed the matter:
http://www.erudit.org/livre/pacrim/2005/000212co.pdf [This is a forestry industry paper - not peer-reviewed.]
http://www.erudit.org/livre/pacrim/2005/000211co.pdf [This is also a forestry industry paper - not peer-reviewed.]
http://www.springerlink.com/content/t34442200806245h/ [This is a link to a book. The free content available is also not peer-reviewed.]
http://www.viha.ca/NR/rdonlyres/AE510FFC-CBCD-44BF-A925-3A67BA67F1CE/0/btk_health_surveillance_report_1999_btk.pdf [This is a British Columbia government report - not peer-reviewed.]
http://www.myhamilton.ca/myhamilton/CityandGovernment/CityDepartments/PublicWorks/Parks/Forestry/Gypsy+Moth/GypM+PHS+Btk.htm. [This is a city government position paper - also not peer-reviewed.] In Lane County we experienced two Gypsy moth treatments, one over an area of over 220,000 acres (in early 80's) and the other in the Crest Drive area of Eugene (2004). Here are excerpts from the Public Health Department:
The Health Division and county health departments conducted public health tracking of illnesses possibly related to Gypsy Moth spraying during previous spray programs in Lane County in 1985-6 and the Portland Metropolitan area in 1987 and 1992. The tracking included reports from doctors and information on hospital emergency room visits. There was no increase in illnesses among people living in spray areas that could be linked to the spraying.
In 1986, the Health Division conducted a special study of health complaints related to the spraying. No unusual patterns of illness complaints were identified. Cultures (blood, urine, throat, wound, etc.) from patients in the spray area were evaluated to determine if Btk was present. When Btk was found in the culture from a patient, that person's medical record was reviewed to determine whether the Btk had caused illness. We found 58 patients with cultures that grew Btk. In 55 of these instances, it was determined that Btk was probably a contaminant of the culture, not the cause of illness. In three patients, there was some evidence that the positive cultures resulted from contamination, but it could not be conclusively determined whether Btk was a contaminant of the culture or the cause of illness. All three patients had pre-existing medical problems.
In 1992, the Multnomah County Health Department and the Health Division jointly monitored the population in the spray area for signs of ill health effects. A total of 66 calls were received from people living in the spray zone, who reported symptoms which they thought may have been caused by the Btk spray. Most of the symptoms reported were minor and were not clearly associated with the spray when complaints were investigated. No positive cultures for Btk infection were found.
Thank you and best regards, Helmuth Rogg
[edit] Pesticide Toxicity and Health Effects
Note that while Btk comprises just over 12% of the commercial insecticide that is currently being sprayed over the SE neighborhood, that the rest 87% is chemical. Note that this combination comprises a conventional pesticide / insecticide. There is no fundamental distinction when over 80% of the product is chemical. Note also that while this information is critical to understanding the pesticide spraying which the ODA is conducting over the neighborhood that this information was moved from the top of the wiki page to the bottom. What is happening to us deserves the prominent inclusion of all pertinent facts. The following information is scientifically or medically researched unlike the information that the ODA has provided above.
Note that much of the discussion in this contributed section applies to conventional pesticides and not necessarily to biological agents such as Btk. This is one of the fundamental distinction in trying to really understand what is happening to us in relation to the history of commercial insecticide and herbicide abuse. Kevin 10:40, 18 May 2009 (PDT)
Oregon Pesticide Education Network publication (pdf) Pesticide Use and Your Health
http://www.pesticide.org/OF2.pdf
This newsletter details the harmful effects of pesticides and is an Oregon publication. Note that what the sub-heading of Breast Cancer the newsletter states that pesticides have been shown to a link because they "mimic estrogen". What this very brief reference actually points to is that pesticides contain phalates. Phalates are endocrine disrupters meaning they mess with our bodies' hormones. This can cause cancers, thyroid problems, lowered sperm counts, deformities and more. Please do yourself a favor and read up on the effects of phalates.
Pesticides: a toxic time bomb in our midst By Marvin J. Levine, 2007 Pesticide exposure has long been a cause for concern, and with good reason. Studies have shown that all persons, but especially children, pregnant women, farmers, farmworkers, and the elderly, may experience negative health effects from pesticide exposure. These effects may include acute poisoning, cancer, neurological damage, birth defects, reduced sperm count, suppressed immune systems, and reproductive and developmental harm. This book is a comprehensive examination of pesticide use, pesticide harm, and alternatives to harmful pesticides.
Pesticide spraying and health effects
Link to this page <a href="http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Pesticide+spraying+and+health+effects-a0131198928">Pesticide spraying and health effects.</a>
I noticed with interest the article "Pesticide Spraying for West Nile Virus Control and Emergency Department Asthma Visits in New York 2000" by Karpati et al. (2004) Many of these patients have toxic encephalopathy, reactive airway disease RADS, and other chemically induced organ system damage. When my patients become ill from pesticide spraying, they usually do not head for an emergency room, where they typically experience long waits in an environment containing germicidal residue, scented products, carbonless copy paper, hospital linens with heavy fabric softener, and other exposures. In addition, they have learned from experience that emergency department personnel often do not understand their condition and do not know how to treat it. Thus your survey, while with admirable intent, greatly underestimates the problem of respiratory exacerbation from West Nile virus pesticide use. Many of my patients have experienced severe neurologic and respiratory exacerbations as well as other organ system damage, such as significant increase in liver enzymes, from exposure to residue from pesticide spraying for West Nile virus. In addition, it is my understanding that these pesticides are not effective for controlling adult mosquitoes and that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other authorities recommend larvae control. The extent of exacerbation of illness caused by pesticide use for West Nile virus control is likely greater than the number of cases of West Nile virus.
Persons who are at increased risk for symptom exacerbation from pesticide spraying such as that used for West Nile virus control include individuals with migraines, chronic sinus problems, asthma, reactive airway disease, autoimmune diseases (many of which are exacerbated by pesticide exposure), and conventional allergies (Kipen et al. 1994). There is increased respiratory inflammation with conventional allergies, and pesticides more readily enter the body because the barrier function of the respiratory tract is further compromised. In addition, Karpati et al. (2004) failed to take note of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), final report "Principles of Neurotoxicity Risk Assessment" (U.S. EPA 1994). This document confirmed the lack of a blood-brain barrier between the nose and the brain, so that pesticides readily enter the body through the nose and pass directly to the brain. This report further confirmed the unusual vulnerability of the brain to neurotoxicants: pesticides are lipophilic and therefore seek out lipid tissue such as the brain, and because the brain has unusually long neurons, repair of damage in the neurons occurs much less readily than in other body cells.
Other groups at increased risk of pesticides are those with chronic obstructive lung disease, also known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), toxic encephalopathy, and neural degenerative diseases. Pyrethroid pesticides are significant neurotoxins (Eells et al. 1992; McDaniel and Moser 1993; Tippe 1993; Vijverberg and van den Bercken 1990), and because they are increasingly replacing organophosphates, they now account for a large proportion of the pesticide-induced chronic illness among my patients. Emergency room visits are merely the tip of the iceberg and patients with many of these disorders usually avoid the emergency room. Thus, the use of emergency rooms is not a sensitive indicator of body damage from pesticides.
In my experience, the use of nebulized glutathione, the major antioxidant and major detoxifying agent of the body (Klaassen et al. 1986), when combined with lipoic acid, helps to improve an individual's ability to detoxify (Packer et al. 1995); lipoic acid reactivates glutathione in lipid- and water-based tissues. Also, nebulized glutathione combined with adequate buffered vitamin C reactivates glutathione in water-based tissues.
The author declares she has no competing financial interests.
REFERENCES
Eells JT, Bandettini PA, Holman PA, Propp JM. 1992. Pyrethroid insecticide-induced alterations in mammalian synaptic membrane potential. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 282:1173-1181.
Karpati AM, Perrin MC, Matte T, Leighton J, Schwartz J, Barr RG. 2004. Pesticide spraying for West Nile virus control and emergency department asthma visits in New York City, 2000. Environ Health Perspect 112:1183-1187.
Kipen HM, Blume IR, Hutt D. 1994. Asthma experience in an occupational medicine clinic. Low dose reactive airway dysfunction syndrome, J Occup Environ Mod 36:1133-1137.
Klaassen CD, ed. 2001. Casarett and Doull's Toxicology: The Basic Science of Poisons, 6th ed. New York:McGraw-Hill.
McDaniel KL, Moser VC. 1993. Utility of neurobehavioral screening battery for differentiating the effects of two pyrethroids pyrethroids synthetic substances with activity similar to the naturally occurring pyrethrins. They include cypermethrin, cyhalothrin, deltamethrin, flumethrin, permethrin. , permethrin permethrin /per·meth·rin/ (per-meth´rin) a topical insecticide used in the treatment of infestations by Pediculus humanus capitis, Sarcoptes scabiei, or any of various ticks; also applied to objects such as furniture and bedding. and cypermethrin. Neurotoxicol Teratol 15(2):71-83.
Packer L, Witt EH, Tritschler HJ. 1995. Alpha-lipoic acid as a biological antioxidant. Free Rad Biol Med 19:227-250.
Tippe A. 1993. Are pyrethroids harmless? Evaluation of experimental data. Zentralbl Hyg Umweltmed 194:342-359.
U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). 1994. Principles of neurotoxicity risk assessment. Fed Reg 42360-12404.
Vijverberg HP, van den Bercken J. 1990. Neurotoxicological effects and the mode of action of pyrethroid pesticides. Crit Rev Toxicol 21:105-126.
Grace Ziem,Occupational and Environmental Health,Emmitsburg, Maryland COPYRIGHT 2005 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
