Public Health Expert Calls West Nile Virus Pesticide Spraying Program “Madness”
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Date:
Tue, 6 Aug 2002
From:
Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization: Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)
To: Paul Helliker <phelliker@cdpr.ca.gov>
Director, State of California, Department of Pesticide
Regulation
CC: "Brian J. Foster" <bfoster@swlaw.com>
cc: Christine Whitman
whitman.christine@epa.gov
NEWS RELEASE
Release: No.39-DIA/9
Date Mailed: Aug. 6, 2002
For Immediate Release
Contact: Elaine Zacky—208/265-2575; 800/336-9266
Public Health Expert Calls West Nile Virus Pesticide Spraying Program “Madness”
Sandpoint, ID — News reports about threatened West Nile Virus (WNV) infections spreading across America have missed the much greater risks posed by chemical sprayings. This mosquito control program is “madness” according to a leading public health authority whose proof is in a new book being donated to libraries and legislators nationwide.
Dr. Leonard G. Horowitz, a Harvard graduate independent investigator, and author of more than thirteen books including the national bestseller, Emerging Viruses: AIDS & Ebola, says spraying pesticides to combat mosquitoes suspected of carrying the West Nile Virus (WNV) has not been scientifically proven to be either safe for humans or effective against the disease. Spraying malathion, a suspected human chemical carcinogen and known immune system blocker, or its alternate, Anvil 10:10, violates a basic tenant of public health practice that requires foreknowledge of the risks and proven benefits of the policy before it is implemented, he says.
There is substantial evidence linking exposure to these airborne chemicals to cancer and genetic damage, the doctor maintains. For this reason he has urged political and public health officials to stop what he calls “imprudent practices that are clearly lethal to people.”
In support of his activism, the publisher of Dr. Horowitz’s Death in the Air (Tetrahedron; 1-888-508-4787) has donated more than 1,000 copies to libraries and legislators. His documentation comes “highly recommended” in the July, 2002 issue of LIBRARY JOURNAL, the nation’s leading academic library periodical.
Henry A. Wallace of the Institute for Alternative Agriculture has also voiced concern saying, “I think people, by now, would know that heavy applications of pesticide have not been the right way to go” in-so-far-as halting the spread of threatening diseases. “Spraying people with pesticide that do not want to be sprayed must be morally wrong.”
Dr. Horowitz says, “This spraying policy violates ethical, moral, and scientific standards. To give people the proof and power to resist this madness I’ve even lifted the copyright on the book. People should photocopy and circulate the stunning evidence at townhall meetings for the benefit of their communities and conscientious policy- makers considering or debating this pesticide spraying issue.”
More information and free book applications link to: http://www.tetrahedron.org.
-end -
NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: For an interview or article on this area of Dr. Horowitz’s research, please call Elaine Zacky at 1-800-336-9266.
229 Gypsy Bay Road • Sagle, ID 83860 • 208-265-2575 • (FAX) 208-265-2775 • http://www.tetrahedron.org
Listen to Dr. Horowitz speak on this subject on the internet at this address www.tetrahedron.org/ra/westnile.ram
See my Mosquito Chapter at: http://www.thebestcontrol.com
If you would like to be included in our mailing list for continuing information on pesticides, please email us at list@safe2use.com.