NJ Bill Would Regulate Mosquito Spraying, Require Public Disclosure Of Chemicals

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:

• Abate – a larvicide that is used to prevent mosquito larvae from molting into the adult stage
• Altosid – a larvicide in both solid and liquid formulations that is used to prevent mosquito larvae from molting into the adult stage
• Aqua-Reslin – an insecticide product that contains Permethrin and PBO, used for the control of adult mosquitoes
• Aqua-Zenivex – an insecticide product that contains Etofenprox, used for the control of adult mosquitoes
• AquaBac 200G – a bacterial granular larvicide that contains Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis
• BVA 2 Mosquito Larvicide Oil – a petroleum oil derivative that contains a special oil formulation as the active ingredient, used to kill mosquitoes in the water by spreading a thin layer of oil on top of the water surface
• CocoBear – an insecticide product that contains Mineral Oil, used to prevent mosquitoes from hatching in lakes, ponds, and other bodies of water
• Duet – an insecticide product that contains Prallethrin, Sumithrin, and PBO, used for the control of adult mosquitoes
• Fourstar – an insecticide product that contains Bacillus sphaericus and Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis, used to prevent mosquitoes from hatching in lakes, ponds, and other bodies of water
• Fyfanon ULV – an organophosphate insecticide that contains malathion and piperonyl butoxide, used for spraying of adult mosquitoes
• Golden Bear – a petroleum oil derivative that contains a special oil formulation as the active ingredient, used to kill mosquitoes in the water by spreading a thin layer of oil on top of the water surface
• Scourge – an imitation mimic of a naturally occurring insecticide that is produced by certain chrysanthemum flowers, contains the active ingredients of resmethrin and piperonyl butoxide
• Vectobac – a bacterial larvicide that contains Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis
• VectoPrime – a larvicide that contains parts of a naturally occurring soil bacterium Bti, also contains (S)-methoprene which is an imitation of a hormone fouup in mosquitoes that keeps larvae in the immature or juvenile stage
• Zenivex – an insecticide product that contains Etofenprox, used for the control of adult mosquitoes

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:

• Dump all standing water from containers around the home. This includes children’s pools, flower pots, tarps, garbage cans, and anything else that may hold water.
• Clean out bird baths once a week.
• Eliminate standing water or low areas in your yard.
• Clean the gutters on your house.
• Use an aerator or fish in any ornamental ponds,
• Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers that are left outside. Drainage holes that are located on the sides collect enough water for mosquitoes to breed in.
• Remove any discarded tires from your property and recycle them.
• Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, even if they are not being used. A swimming pool left unattended can cause a mosquito problem throughout the whole neighborhood.

>> RELATED: These Are The 10 Commandments of Mosquito Control

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