Mosquito spray, scented children’s books, and radioactive consumer goods

Posted on Jun 13, 2009 by Susie Collins in Blog, Environment, Linda Sepp

LINDA’S LUGUBRIOUS LACHRYMALS.

The Woodlands Villager reports mosquito season prevention efforts amping up:

Spraying is done with insecticides such as Permethrin, which Cottingham says isn’t harmful to humans save for those with chemical sensitivities.

Spraying is done in the late evening or early morning to avoid people, however, and drivers are conscious of people who might still be outside and turn off the foggers when they see them.

“If you hear the mosquito truck, you should probably go inside,” Cottingham said. “If nothing else, it means there are a high number of mosquitoes or diseases in the area, and no one needs that.”

Statewide, many public officials judge spraying as largely ineffective, in part based on the findings of a Texas A&M study conducted after the first appearances of the West Nile virus in the United States in 2002.

One contributing factor is wind, which often blows the sprayed chemicals away from targeted breeding areas. Another is that entire swarms of mosquitoes flee the chemical plumes.

OC Weekly reports on Mo’s Nose, an upcoming series of high-tech children’s books written by Margaret Hyde about a dog named Mo. The books contain “new Press-2-Smell Technology, in which hidden, nontoxic, scented packets allow kids to delight in Mo’s exciting discovery of strawberries, roses and much more.” There is no mention of how “non-toxic” is defined.

Scripps reports recycled radioactive metal contaminates consumer products. “Common kitchen cheese graters, reclining chairs, women’s handbags and tableware manufactured with contaminated metals have been identified, some after having been in circulation for as long as a decade. So have fencing wire and fence posts, shovel blades, elevator buttons, airline parts and steel used in construction.”

Wiley reports on a study finding a link between Parkinson’s Disease and pesticide exposure in French farm workers.

Greenwich Citizen reports a green group urges reduction of common chemicals use. The Go Greener Greenwich environmental task force points out: “Because of the high volume of chemicals we commonly use, children growing up now are predicted to be the first generation to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents. That is a staggering and chilling fact.”

Science News reports pesticide may seed American infant formulas with melamine.

The Canadian Press reports new life grows in the debate over genetically modified wheat, but experts say old seeds of doubt still abound.

SF Gate food writer Michael Bauer reports on perfume in restaurants: Let’s ban perfume from restaurants, and, in 2008, Dining with Coco Chanel.

How much more do we need to know before we do the right thing?

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