ILLNESSES
After the State of California sprayed pesticides over Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties last fall, residents filed 643 health complaints 26 of these reports were made to individuals' doctors, 290 were to non-governmental groups, and 317 to state agencies. A number of post-menopausal women reported sudden recommencement of menstruation shortly after the spraying. The largest "red tide" in the history of Santa Cruz County coincidentally followed, as did hundreds of bird deaths. One surfer wrote: "It’s the worst I’ve seen in the 40 years I’ve lived here… Many fellow surfers are suffering from a variety of maladies including ear and sinus infections along with respiratory wheezing and the like…"
Pacific Grove resident Mike Lynberg published an Executive Summary Of Complaints And Recommendation which reviews the 643 documented complaints of adverse reactions following the CDFA’s Aerial Spraying in the Fall 2007. Complaints range from asthma attacks to lung congestion and soreness, from skin rashes to blurred vision and more.
Dr. Larry Rose, M.D., M.P.H., former senior Public Medical Officer for Cal-OSHA for 28 years, wrote a Health Hazard Alert for the planned aerial spraying, which Stop the Spray Marin distributed to first responders in Marin County and made available to all groups working to stop the spray.
We still have grave concerns about the health and environmental impact of any pesticides being applied in our communities, whether they are delivered through ground sprays or other methods. The California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) has not selected the new formulas nor have they disclosed full lists and percentages of ingredients. The health studies the CDFA has performed on pesticide formulas they are considering do not take in to account that people, pets and wildlife would be continually exposed to these toxins for years, as their program requires. We anticipate that should this program go forward, many thousands of people and animals in the Light Brown Apple Moth Eradication zone will suffer ill health effects.
