Mothra: Why the Schwarzenegger Administration is Wrong About Spraying Californians With Toxic Chemicals

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Robert Lieber, RN
Mayor
City of Albany

In a May 16 article on his department’s plan to eradicate the light brown apple moth (LBAM) by aerial spray and other means, California Agriculture Secretary A.G. Kawamura accuses those who oppose the LBAM program of spreading “misinformation” and urges us all to rely on “sound science” and to “draw the line” on “exaggerated and unsubstantiated claims” that cause “unwarranted fear.”

Mr. Secretary, it is time to look in the mirror. You and your department are the primary source of misinformation and fear tactics.

You claim the pesticides you sprayed last fall and want to spray this summer over our communities are “just pheromones,” neglecting to mention that the products in question are designated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as pesticides and contain not only untested, synthetic pheromones but a host of other toxic ingredients, dispersed in minute plastic capsules.

You claim that LBAM is a “ravenous” pest that will destroy California agriculture and eat everything from redwoods to Scotch broom when in fact this benign moth has caused no damage in California and almost no damage in the other states and countries where it is established.

You claim that the spray is safe and has been tested when your own department’s documents say otherwise. You claim that the state’s superficial review of the 643 illness reports after last year’s spray proves there is no link between the spray and the sicknesses when in fact that report reviewed only 10 percent of the reports and concluded it could not determine whether or not there was a link.

Who is relying on unsound science and unsubstantiated and exaggerated claims?

At least two courts in the state of California have agreed during the past month that your science is not sound, halting the spray program in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties and ruling that you and your department abused your discretion in exempting the program from any environmental review.

Local governments all around the Central Coast and Bay Area where spraying is slated to start this summer also agree that your claims do not stand up to scrutiny. Almost every city and county – more than 25 at last count -- where you and your department have made presentations about the LBAM program has now voted to officially oppose the program.