Friday, August 4, 2006

Sacramento Bee

Chemicals don't do the job

Re "Yolo aerial spraying set," Aug. 1: Use your heads. Do the math.

Two people are ill so approximately 115,336 will be exposed to toxic
spray. The percentage of people with West Nile: 0.00173 percent.

The number of people, including children, pregnant women, asthmatics
et al. affected by these pesticides: unknown.

The number of previously approved pesticides currently withdrawn by
the EPA: more than 200.

The bottom line: These chemicals do nothing to prevent West Nile
virus, and there are no valid studies that prove the contrary. The
drop-off in the number of cases in Sacramento last year after
spraying would have happened without the spraying. It's the natural
cycle.

There are safer, more effective mosquito control methods. I'm
saddened by the number of people who have fallen prey to the
sensationalism.

The citizens who oppose indiscriminate spraying have spent a great
deal of time and effort researching the issues involving the West
Nile virus. Among them are scientists, physicians and researchers.
Unlike the pesticide industry (that spends millions in media
campaigns and lobbying), these concerned citizens have no ulterior
motives. There is no profit to be made. They only care about the
health and safety of their loved ones, their community and the
environment.

- Sue Capizzi, Davis

http://tinyurl.com/qzq4j

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Friday, August 4, 2006

Sacramento Bee

Piling toxin exposure atop it all

Re "Man speaks out on W. Nile ordeal," Aug. 2: Byron Leiblein's
suffering clearly shows how important controlling West Nile virus is,
and how important it is for our community to pull together to prevent
more cases.

According to the article, Leiblein was aware of the West Nile issue
and took the recommended precautions: using repellant, wearing long
sleeves and dealing with water issues in his own backyard by stocking
mosquito-eating fish in his pond. Yet he was still bitten by an
infected mosquito.

Perhaps this mosquito was bred in a neighbor's abandoned swimming
pool, a wastewater ditch on neglected city property or in a catch
basin continuously filled due to overwatering -- who knows? What we
do know is that the answer to preventing more cases of West Nile, and
more suffering like Byron Leiblein's, will come from individual and
communitywide efforts to eradicate mosquito breeding sites.

Relying on aerial spraying to solve the problem is a disaster in the
making. Piling toxin exposure on top of West-Nile exposure isn't the
way to go.

- Shawn Bowers, Sacramento

http://tinyurl.com/qzq4j

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