The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has confirmed West Nile Virus in two birds in the Town of Carlisle. The Board of Health has issued a public notice on the Town's website.
The Parks and Recreation Department has been working with the Board of Health (BOH) to get the necessary waivers for the spraying of specific recreation fields (Jack Walsh, American Legion, VFW). The waiver has been approved by the BOH due to the immediate public health concerns.
The spraying has been scheduled through the Central Mass. Mosquito Control Project, and will take place on Wednesday, September 3rd after 8:30PM. The product being sprayed is Anvil 10 +10. (EPA registration #1021-1688-8329)
Information on this product and mosquito control spraying may be found on the Central Mass. Mosquito Control (CMMCP) website. A Q&A from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, about Anvil is attached below. For additional information please contact Parks and Recreation or CMMCP@ 508-393-3055.
Please note that although we have not received any reports of positive birds or mosquito pools in Westford as of this date, all residents should take appropriate measures to protect their family from mosquito and tick borne diseases. Additional information can be found on the BOH web site.
Please pass this information along to family and friends.
Subject: MDPH Q & A document from 2006 EEEv Aerial Application of Anvil 10+10
<<Final EEE aerial QA 2006.doc>>
Q 11:
What health impacts among the general population can be expected with the aerial spraying of Anvil?
Due to the very low concentrations of Anvil used to control mosquitoes during aerial spraying, adverse health effects are not expected.
Q 15:
Could the aerial spraying result in long-term health effects?
Sumithrin did not cause cancer in rodents when they were fed high levels for their lifetime. Experimental studies have reported that piperonyl butoxide causes liver tumors in rodents when they are fed high levels of piperonyl butoxide every day for a long period of time. The amount of piperonyl butoxide ingested by animals in these studies, however, far exceeds the amount humans might be exposed to as a result of the aerial use of Anvil to control mosquitoes. Although uncertainties exist, available information indicates that piperonyl butoxide is unlikely to cause cancer in humans as a result of its use to control mosquitoes.
Q 16:
What are the environmental characteristics and impacts of sumithrin?
Sumithrin is rapidly inactivated and decomposed by exposure to light and air with a half-life of less than one day in the air, and on plants and other surfaces subject to sunlight. It does not dissolve easily in water, and is broken down by microorganisms in streams and water bodies that receive sunlight. Thus, residues in water would not be expected. Because of environmental fate and dilution characteristics and the fact that spraying does not occur over drinking water supply reservoirs, opportunities for exposure via drinking water are not expected. Anvil and other pyrethroid pesticides are toxic to terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates (e.g., dragonflies, beetles) and to fish. However, as the size of the fish pool or pond decreases the risk to the fish increases. The risks to large natural water bodies are
minimal. Thus, you may want to cover a small ornamental fish pond in your yard during the night of spraying.
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