Officials call of aerial spray for apple moth

On Thursday, California Agricultural Secretary A.G. Kawamura and a U.S. Department of Agriculture official announced a halt to plans for aerial spraying against the light brown apple moth in urban areas, including the San Francisco Bay Area. Instead, officials intend to fight the invading, leaf-munching pest by releasing sterile moths and using biological and chemical controls to help control the pest in urban areas. Growers may use the pesticides according to agricultural rules. The change represents the victory of a "presumed dangerous until proven safe" approach to chemicals over the United States' standard "presumed safe until proven dangerous" approach. Much of the criticism of the aerial spraying program centered on a dearth of study of the short-term and long-term health effects of the pheromone pesticide on humans, pets, wildlife and fish as wells as bees, butterflies and organic crops. After the state sprayed aerially in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties last year, hundreds of people reported respiratory and other health effects. More here.