I am not finished yet to release my 150 page website (and experience from the past has taught me that to release a portion of the finished report causes the rest of the report to be completely ignored).  Still, here is one comment:

 

            Here is a typical example of how Longmont’s incompetent City Council operates.  Council members ask questions to show that they are informed, rational, and caring about the environment and human life.  Then we have answers from the company involved, in this case, Colorado Mosquito Control who is daily spraying or fogging extremely lethal chemicals all over Boulder County and other counties in Colorado.  These answers are diametrically opposed to the truth.  Then there are the answers from supposedly independent experts which are also diametrically opposed to the truth.  Doc Weissmann is neither a Ph.D. ,a M.D., or independent, but an employee of Colorado Mosquito Control.  His answer to the question of harm done to bees is a complete contradiction of the label on Aqualuer 20 20, the brand name of lethal chemicals Colorado Mosquito Control is spraying daily throughout the county.  The next answer is from our State epidemiologist, John Pape (pronounced “poppy”), when the record states that “Mr. Poppy added that there have not been any conclusive studies that link spraying to illnesses.”  Either he is totally incompetent, or he is deliberately misrepresenting the truth.  In either case, this is the person is who recommending aerial spraying of Boulder County wall-to-wall two different times before even a single case of West Nile is reported  This person should not be in a position of trust.  His interpretation of the last four years is counterindicated by the history of West Nile Virus in the rest of the country.  The real reason these individuals connected to Colorado Mosquito Control do not want to wait for numbers of cases to come in is because there will be no emergency epidemic.  Most people in Colorado and to the east of Colorado already have life-time immunity from previous exposure to West Nile Virus.  90% of individuals experience no symptoms whatsoever after exposure to West Nile Virus.  If individuals are subjected to lethal chemicals and neurotoxins such as the ingredients found in Aqualuer 20 20, then we will have more cases of West Nile Virus become neuroinvasive, i.e more cases of meningitis, encephalitis, and death.

 

            Then when the vote is taken, the attractive characteristics which the council members display during the questioning period suddenly disappear except for one Council member, Karen Benker whose vote is overridden by the votes of the other members of the Council.  And these individuals have the power to subject thousands of individuals, including children, to very lethal chemicals even in the absence of any health epidemic.

 

            Mr Weissmann’s employment is heralded on the website of Colorado Mosquito Control:  For more information, to set up sample submissions or for instructions on how to package and ship trap samples, contact Michael “Doc” Weissmann in the CMC Surveillance Laboratory at (303) 558-8730 (or Toll Free at (877) 276-4306 outside of the Denver Metro Area).”http://www.comosquitocontrol.com/Consulting_Services.htmlhttp://www.comosquitocontrol.com/Consulting_Services.html

 

            The following minutes of the Longmont City Council are from the internet address:  http://www.ci.longmont.co.us/city_council/minutes/documents/05082007.pdf

 

CITY COUNCIL REGULAR SESSION

CITY OF LONGMONT, COLORADO

CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

May 8, 2007

….

D. Mosquito Program Update

Dan Wolford, Open Space Manager, introduced this item. He provided an overview of West Nile

Virus in 2006. There were 219 human cases in the state with 119 cases centered close to Longmont.

Longmont will again be teaming up with Boulder County and the Health Department to protect the

community against this disease. A recommendation has been made to extend the contract with

Colorado Mosquito Control (CMC). The vast majority of the program (95%) deals with larval

control. The remaining 5% is the adulticide program. Last year CMC investigated over 2,000 sites,

and sprayed 411 miles, and treated 311 different sites. Approximately 41 miles was sprayed

throughout the entire year to deal with nuisance mosquitoes. The remaining miles were targeted at the

culex species, a known carrier of the West Nile virus. When any of ten traps reach the threshold of

100 adult mosquitoes, that number triggers the spraying program. The trap sites are monitored and

counted every single week throughout the season. He reviewed the hotspots in Longmont. CMC

does provide notification in the Times Call before spraying. In addition information is provided on

the website. A complaint line (877-276-4306) has been set up so the general public may call CMC

rather than the City. CMC also has a chemical sensitivity notification list, and gives prior notice of

neighborhood spraying to allow citizens the opportunity take whatever action is necessary to protect

themselves.

Mayor Pirnack noted that spray dates were often changed because of the possibility of rain. She asked

about more information on the call list.

Mike McGuinness, Colorado Mosquito Control, explained that people on CMC’s list receive a

notification renewal form every year. CMC will call them the day of scheduled spraying and let them

know it is weather permitting. They know a cancelled spray will be automatically rescheduled for the

next night. If a cancellation extends to a third day, CMC does telephone everyone on the list on that

third day. He advised that information is also put on the CMC website. If there is a postponement, it

usually occurs by 6 p.m.

Responding to Council member Brown’s query about how long the spray remains in the atmosphere,

Mr. McGuiness replied that it depends upon weather conditions. Generally, the spray is in the air

about an hour or less. CMC tries not to spray when it is very calm.

Responding to Council member Benker’s query whether spaying affects any water sources, Mr.

McGuiness advised that the type of spraying is called ultra low volume—less than 1 ounce per acre in

microscopic size droplets. The half-life is less than 12 hours, so the compound is broken down

quickly. The larva control is different. Water is treated with a bacterial product called BTI. When

this granular product is eaten, the larval is destroyed. The product does not affect other non-targeted

species. Its use is very specific to mosquito larva.

Joe Malanowski, Consumer Protection Coordinator, Boulder County Health Department, stated that

the County has had a mosquito control program for over ten years. The program primarily targets

larva control. He wished to speak about the West Nile aspect of mosquito control. In 2003 and 2006

there were large numbers of mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus. Over the last four years much has

been about the disease and how that disease progresses. There is more compelling evidence this year

that really shows when the County should recommend spraying for West Nile Virus.

John Poppy, Epidemiologist with the State of Colorado, stated that there are now four full years of

data on this disease that shows some trends. The state knows approximately where West Nile activity

will be, but it can’t predict the severity. Three areas that consistently light up each year are the

northern Front Range, the Grand Junction/Delta area, and the Arkansas River drainage area.

Irrigated cropland is a wonderful mosquito producer. Mosquito production is probably taking place

outside city limits, and then the strong-flying mosquitoes migrate in. July and August are the peak

months for the West Nile virus. It takes several days before people start reporting that they are not

feeling well. Then, a few days to a week elapse before people are tested. Then, there is the wait for

the test results. A three to five week delay usually occurs before the Health Department begins

receiving information about human cases. Thus, there is a need to make a spraying decision based on

surveillance data from the mosquito population. Control should occur in July if it is going to prevent

the most number of cases.

Council member Lange asked if West Nile moves around nationally, or is it very predictable that

Longmont will have its fair share of cases.

Mr. Poppy explained that the virus arrived in the United States in 1999 in New York City.

Successive epidemics occurred in 2002, 2003, and 2004. West Nile Virus has found a home in the

western United States because it is irrigated crop land. Certain areas of Colorado are consistently

going to be hit harder than other areas of the U.S. He confirmed for Mayor Pirnack that the

larvicide’s control in City limits is very effective. But, there is the problem of “immigration.”

Mike McGuinness added that, fortunately, CMC also carries out Boulder County mosquito control.

The key fact is that mosquitoes are going to fly only as far as they need to in order to get a blood

meal.

Gordon Pedrow, City Manager, stated that throughout the summer when traps were showing certain

numbers, the City sprayed locally. However, it was late in spraying the entire City.

Mr. McGuiness advised Council member Block that CMC uses the most environmentally sound and

least toxic products available. Its effect on a person varies with that person’s sensitivities. CMC

does have a link to the Boulder County Health website where there is a paper entitled “Human Health

Risk Assessment for West Nile Virus and Insecticide Used in Mosquito Management.”

Mr. Poppy added that there have not been any conclusive studies that link spraying to illnesses.

He advised Council member Brown that three companies are working toward developing a vaccine

for West Nile virus. He expects to see a human vaccine on the market in two to three years.

Mayor Pirnack asked for information on the impact of spraying on other beneficial insects such as

honey bees, etc. If one had bee colonies on his property, could he avoid having the area sprayed?

Doc Weismann, Entomologist for Colorado Science Control, replied that a large bodied insect would

have to be right behind the truck to be affected. Spraying is done at night when most of the main

pollinators are in their hives, so they are generally not affected.

Mr. McGuinness added that CMC does have a “no-spray” list with a number of bee hive owners on

that list. CMC has never had a significant bee kill-off from spraying. He said he will be

recommending late June to first week of August as the most effective for adulticide spraying.

Mr. Malanowski also commented that the risk of West Nile virus is much worse than the risk of the

pesticide being used.

Council member Benker moved, seconded by Brown, to allow the public an opportunity to

speak before the experts leave. Motion carried: 6-0 (Wilson absent).

Mayor opened public comment on this item.

Jen Sutton, 400 Emery Street, said she is deeply concerned about the use of pyrethorides for adult

mosquito spraying. She believes it to be a type of carcinogen. She said she does support larviciding

using BTI. She stated she was diagnosed with breast cancer last July. It is progesterone and estrogen

receptor positive which means her cancer is aggravated by estrogens. Permetherin is a manmade

estrogen that can produce shortness of breath, tremors, loss of coordination, headaches, eye and skin

irritations, and disruption of the endocrine system. Children are more sensitive to permethrin than

adults. Pesticides kill off the natural predators of mosquitoes, so they came back stronger after

spraying and are pesticide resistant to future sprayings. She asked Council to consider alternatives

including increased larviciding which is more effective in reducing mosquito populations.

Kirsten Burris, 1303 Carolina Avenue, is concerned that the City is spraying its community with a

cancer causing agent and so could be causing cancer in community members. CMC did not present

any investigative results on this issue. The City of Boulder does not spray. They larvicide only

because larviciding solves both problems in the most humane way, and is least harmful to life.

Mark Osborne, 937 Dennys Court, stated his support for larviciding fully and completely. Spraying is

a major problem. The chemicals from the spray will not be out of his yard or home. The spray is

broken down by sunlight and actually lasts for about 30 days. He indicated his personal experience

with bee kill-off. He stated he had about 800 bees around his home and the day after permethrin was

sprayed there was a 90% die off of the bees in his yard. He pointed out that St. Judes’ Children’s

research hospital has clearly connected permethrin with Parkinson’s Disease.

Mr. Malanowski confirmed for Council member Lange that Boulder will spray when West Nile virus

reaches a certain level.

Mr. Weismann advised Mayor Pirnack that many insects do develop a resistance to pesticides. The

type of mosquito control being done in Colorado does not harm mosquito predators. Many

carcinogens are dose related. CMC is using the lowest dose it can. What a citizen can purchase for

home use is often more toxic than what is being sprayed.

City Council Proceedings – May 8, 2007 Page 6.

Council member Block requested that CMC representatives visit Council again before spraying the

second time.

Council member Brown noted there is tremendous amount of spraying on the agricultural land that

surrounds the City.

Mr. Wolford advised Council member Lange that he and staff are in complete agreement about not

spraying any more often than is absolutely necessary. The City is trying to be very sensitive to those

with special needs.

Mayor Pirnack said she wished to be reassured that the index for spraying is based on the presence of

West Nile Virus and not based on nuisance mosquitoes.

Council member Benker remarked she did not feel comfortable giving this decision to staff. She

believes it should be a Council decision.

Council member Block moved, seconded by Blue, to give Gordon Pedrow, City Manager, the

ability to make the decision on first spraying. Motion carried: 5-1 (Benker dissenting, Wilson

absent).