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Mosquito Control Program
from Marcie Crozier

There are some points to ponder regarding the government of B.C.’s Mosquito Control Program. In the notice which appeared in the May 14, 2008 Vernon Morning Star, we see that BWP Consulting Inc. will be spraying B.T. throughout the N.O. Regional District, at times by helicopter.

Note: Bacillus thuringiensis var israelensis (BTi) and Bacillus sphaericus (Bs) are larvicides (intended for killing mosquito larvae) and do fall under the Integrated Pest Management Act as they are (biological) pesticides/biopesticides. The larvicide products being used by BWP Consulting are: Vectobac, Aquabac, and VectoLex.

The B.C. government has also approved the application of the adulticides Methoprene, Malathion and Synergized pyrethrins or synthetic pyrethroids (Pesticide Use Permit issued August 15, 2003. Adulticides (targeted to kill adult mosquitos) are nasty chemicals and we definitely don’t want these. Please be aware that the approval is in place for their use prior to WNv infection in humans, i.e., once they get laboratory confirmation of West Nile Virus in birds/mosquitoes/other mammals, then they can start spraying with the adulticides.

Generally, all of the research indicates that there is no sinister or imminent health risk to humans who come into contact with the larvicides being used in the local program, but as you can imagine, there are some concerns regarding the environment. What follows are some pertinent pieces of information I have so far been able to find with regard to the B.C. larvicide Mosquito Control Program.

The National Pesticide Telecommunications Network (NPTN) advises, “Most Bt subspecies tested for toxicity to honey bees have shown minimal toxicity, but one subspecies has displayed high toxicity to bees…” Also regarding bees, on a blog site (beesource.com), one comment advises that BTi has never been tested on bee larvae, only adult bees, i.e., it has never been tested in the water delivered to a live bee hive and the effect on the brood cycle of the hive.

As most people have heard by now, there has been a concerning reduction in the number of honey bees, and if these products are contributing in any way to this reduction, I would think we shouldn’t be using them at all (i.e., the honey bee larvae studies should be undertaken.

To date, British Columbia has not had any confirmed cases of West Nile Virus (WNv). It has been at our border (in Alberta) since 2003 and was expected in 2004, but for some reason has not jumped the Rockies yet. I was advised by Cheryl at BWP Consulting (see the notice) that it is currently a preventative program we are undergoing. I wonder why we are dumping these pesticides into our environment when we don’t yet have any cases of WNv. Herman Halverson (NORD Area F representative) says, and I quote, “It’ll be great that people will be able to barbecue this year” (one wonders if the program is more for this type of reasoning.)

One is not able to find any information on the inactive ingredients of the larvicide formulations being used in our area as these are “trade secrets”. In the product “Vectolex”, for example, the active ingredient/bacteria makes up 7.5% of the product and the “Inactive” ingredients 92.5%. A report from “Environmental Health Perspectives” dated Aug. 18/06 titled “Unidentified Inert Ingredients in Pesticides” reports that of 20 toxicology tests (conditionally) required by the U.S. EPA, only seven short-term acute toxicity tests use the actual pesticide formulation (the actual product); the rest are done with only the active ingredient, i.e., the bacteria.

There are a couple of articles which indicate that more thorough testing needs to be done on non-target invertebrates.

I do believe that we do need to start a campaign to reduce the government’s decision to use adulticide pesticide sprays in the event of a confirmed non-human WNv event.

If anyone has found any additional information or if I’ve mis-advised on anything, please let me know mcrozier@telus.net . For an exhaustive fact sheet about Bacillus Thuringiensis http://www.pesticide.org/bacillus.pdf

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Our Provincial mosquito obtained permit by Donlea, Enderby
As part of the West Nile virus strategy, the Minister of Health Services has obtained a permit under the Pesticide Control Act to control mosquitoes should they pose a public health risk due to the virus. The permit ensures health officials can respond quickly to protect British Columbians. It provides a legal mechanism to allow pesticide application if health officials determine the virus poses a public health threat. Mosquito Control and Integrated Pest Management (IPM). IPM is a process that includes monitoring mosquitoes and their breeding habitats, and using appropriate measures to control problem mosquitoes. Control measures could include eliminating mosquito breeding sites, placing larvicide pellets in breeding sites and public education. Spraying insecticides to control adult mosquitoes (adulticides) is much less effective, and should only be considered as a last resort.
Modifications or treatments of ditches, swamps, streams, lakes and other water bodies that are not man made and self-contained must be authorized by the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection.

Most people infected with WNV will experience no symptoms at all. About 20% of those infected will develop mild flu-like symptoms lasting a week or less. Ref: Health Canada www.healthservices.gov.bc.ca/pho/wnv.html
 
The Minister of Health Services has obtained a permit under the Pesticide Control Act to control mosquitoes should {?} they pose a public health risk due to the virus. web info for permits issuesed to sprap vancouver, Okanagan, and across BC.: http://www.bccdc.org/downloads/pdf/epid/wn_press040414.pdf
Under the permit local governments acting on advice from the local medical health officer may request authorization to apply larvicides and/or adulticides by ground or air in their areas. For more information see: (http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/nrm_news_releases/2003HSER0041-000735.htm).
For more local info eamil here: contact