ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — What is in the “mosquito spray?” That's the question some residents have in New Jersey, where a proposed law involving the infamous pests is working its way through the Legislature.
As the spring and summer months approach – and mosquitos begin buzzing across the state – A4569 continues to await a hearing in the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.
If it gets a green light, the bill would require New Jersey counties and commercial pesticide companies to notify all residents located “within or adjacent to a mosquito spraying application” about their plans at least five days beforehand.
Notification would have to take place via telephone or regular certified mail. It would have to include two key aspects: the date/time that the mosquito spraying application will occur, and the types of chemicals that will be used.
The bill’s primary sponsors are Annette Quijano (NJ-20) and Rosy Bagolie (NJ-27), who represents Livingston, Millburn, Montclair, Roseland, West Orange and Clifton.
Bagolie isn’t the only elected official in Essex County to bring up the issue. Last year, Joyce Rudin, a councilwoman in West Orange, called for more information about the specific chemicals that would be used during a local round of spraying.
“Transparency and public health must take priority in decisions involving chemical exposure in our community,” she wrote.
There are more than 60 species of mosquitoes that can be found in New Jersey. Many can spread pathogens that cause several types of diseases that are dangerous to humans.
According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), the Garden State was the first in the nation to have an organized mosquito control program. A mosquito control commission or department can now be found in each of the state’s 21 counties – including Essex County.
The county has also recently conducted spraying operations in towns including Belleville, Fairfield, Livingston, Millburn Roseland and West Caldwell.
ESSEX COUNTY AND MOSQUITO SPRAYING: WHAT TO KNOW
Essex County uses a variety of approaches year-round to control the mosquito population – including pesticide spraying.
A question-and-answer sheet from the county discusses some of the chemicals that are used:
“The primary insecticide used to control the immature stage is a biorational larvicide, which uses bacteria called Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) to specifically target mosquito larvae. Mosquitoes feed on the bacteria, which then releases a crystallized toxin that ruptures the larval stomach and causes death. Another target specific larvicide uses a different bacteria called Bacillus sphaericus (Bs) for the same general purpose. At times, an insect growth regulator that mimics naturally found hormones in mosquito larvae is used to suspend and damage the developmental stages of the immature mosquitoes. Chemical control measures are also taken by using an organophosphate larvicide on older larvae that no longer feed. A petroleum oil derivative is also used from time to time, which is mainly used as a pupicide in relatively small aquatic habitats. Different types of adulticides may be used if unusually large numbers of adult mosquitoes are present or public health is threatened. All pesticide applications comply with guidelines recommended for mosquito control in New Jersey by the Agricultural Experiment Station of Rutgers University and regulations set forth by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection.”
Most of the pesticides used are products to control mosquito larvae in the water. However, it is sometimes necessary to use pesticides to control adult mosquitoes, the document says.
Some specific chemicals include:
Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said that in urban areas where aerial spraying is not effective, public works staff use truck mounted sprayers. This spraying is usually done at night.
“The spray we use is a natural substance that is safe for humans and pets,” DiVincenzo said in a social media post last year.
According to a mosquito control brochure from the county, their ultra-low volume (ULV) sprays travel about 300 feet from the truck and cover large areas, without driving specifically through a yard.
“Spraying yard to yard is not an effective way to control for adult mosquitoes, so we focus on neighborhood level operations,” the brochure states.
Essex County’s mosquito inspectors are full-time employees, certified by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to apply pesticides to control mosquitoes, the brochure says.
PREVENTION TIPS FOR HOMEOWNERS
There are several steps that homeowners can take themselves to help prevent mosquito infestations, the county public works department says.
“Any container holding water is a potential mosquito-breeding source and is likely to cause problems around the house,” the DPW says.
“Of particular concern are clogged gutters and scattered tires. Both tend to collect leaves, then fill with water and provide very attractive sites for mosquitoes to breed. Since these containers are water tight, they dry out very slowly and are generally the cause of mosquito problems around the home. Gutters should be kept clean and other containers removed or overturned to limit mosquito-breeding sites.”
Other basic steps homeowners can take to reduce mosquito populations around the home include:
>> RELATED: These Are The 10 Commandments of Mosquito Control
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