This may have been addressed already on a former thread, but what pesticide is used in the spraying process? Is it plant based?
I wasn't aware there was a plane used now. I thought they only used the trucks.
What would you propose to keep the skeeter population down?
Yes, currently they use a plane to spray poisons over the beaches, in addition to the spraying trucks.
If you want to avoid bites by mosquitos, avoid being outside at dawn and dusk. Cover your skin with light colored clothing. Empty containers of standing water. Install bat houses and Martin houses, which eat many mosquitos. place screens on your porches and over your windows and doors. If you wish to be less attractive to mosquitoes, try using products that are unscented (i.e. hair spray, deodorant, soap, etc.) Lastly, if you want to inhale poison or have it soak through your skin, coat your own body with deet, not mine. Personally, I use homemade non-toxic solutions.
When we start killing off one of the animals in nature's life cycle, others will suffer. We humans tend to forget that a whole world exist outside of our own human population.
From South Walton's Mosquito Control (SWMC):
"Mosquitoes play an important role in the ecosystem. During their aquatic phase, mosquitoes provide food for other aquatic insects such as dragonfly and damselfly nymphs, beetles, and water scorpions, fish, bacteria, fungus, frogs, and other water-dwelling animals. As adults, they provide food for bats, birds, other insects, lizards, and spiders.
They also provide work for pesticide manufacturers
, health specialists, mosquito control personnel, and entomologists. When mosquitoes feed on plant juices and flower nectar for energy, they perform the important service of pollinator to these plants."
To me, it seems rather ironic that they would list the importance of mosquitos in our ecosystem, then follow it with the statement that they also provide work for pesiticide manufacturers and mosquito control personnel.
Also from SWMC:
Are the chemicals that Mosquito Control sprays harmful to people or pets?
"The amounts of Mosquito Control chemicals that are sprayed out of the trucks and aircraft are not harmful to people or pets. However, as with any chemical, it is a good idea to keep exposure to a minimum. If you or your pet accidentally gets hit with the spray, you might feel a momentary slight burning or stinging sensation on the skin or in the eyes and may cough briefly if the spray is inhaled. The smell is usually worse than the taste or sting. Unless you are very sensitive or allergic to chemicals, washing your skin with water is all that is needed. At the low insecticide dosage used, no other symptoms should be experienced. If other symptoms are experienced, a physician should be notified immediately."
Nowhere on there nice little
website do they mention what they spray. Maybe they don't really want us to know, since their jobs rely on us not knowing.
According to the
FL Dept of Agriculture, the planes spray Dibrom, which is an organophoshate, made of
Naled,
DDVP, and
Naphthalene ( all three are listed as poisons, and the last two being noted as possible carcinogens) In the amounts which they spray it, it "kills insects on contact." (but of course it has no effect on humans -- right.)
Organophosphate pesticides-
Organophosphate pesticides (as well as [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarin"]Sarin[/ame] and VX nerve gas) irreversibly inactivate acetylcholinesterase, which is essential to nerve function in insects, humans, and many other animals.
Organophosphate pesticides tend to degrade rapidly on exposure to sunlight, air, and soil, though small amounts can persist and end up in food and drinking water. While organophosphates degrade faster than the organochlorines, they have much greater acute toxicity, posing risks to farmworkers, pesticide applicators, and anyone else who may be exposed to large amounts. OP poisoning can be very serious and even cause death.
Naled is moderately to highly toxic by ingestion, inhalation and dermal adsorption. Vapors or fumes of naled are corrosive to the mucous membranes lining the mouth, throat and lungs, and inhalation may cause severe irritation (
9). A sensation of tightness in the chest and coughing are commonly experienced after inhalation (
14).
As with all organophosphates, naled is readily absorbed through the skin. Skin which has come in contact with this material should be washed immediately with soap and water and all contaminated clothing should be removed. Persons with respiratory ailments, recent exposure to cholinesterase inhibitors, impaired cholinesterase production, or with liver malfunction may be at increased risk from exposure to naled.
High environmental temperatures or exposure of naled to visible or UV light may enhance its toxicity (9). (Even though South Walton Mosquito Control says that light breaks it down more rapidly.;-))
The organophosphate insecticides are cholinesterase inhibitors.
They are highly toxic by all routes of exposure. When inhaled, the first effects are usually respiratory and may include bloody or runny nose, coughing, chest discomfort, difficult or short breath, and wheezing due to constriction or excess fluid in the bronchial tubes. Skin contact with organophosphates may cause localized sweating and involuntary muscle contractions. Eye contact will cause pain, bleeding, tears, pupil constriction, and blurred vision. Following exposure by any route, other systemic effects may begin within a few minutes or be delayed for up to 12 hours. These may include pallor, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, headache, dizziness, eye pain, blurred vision, constriction or dilation of the eye pupils, tears, salivation, sweating, and confusion. Severe poisoning will affect the central nervous system, producing incoordination, slurred speech, loss of reflexes, weakness, fatigue, involuntary muscle contractions, twitching, tremors of the tongue or eyelids, and eventually paralysis of the body extremities and the respiratory muscles. In severe cases there may also be involuntary defecation or urination, psychosis, irregular heart beats, unconsciousness, convulsions and coma. Death may be caused by respiratory failure or cardiac arrest (
9).
Some organophosphates may cause delayed symptoms beginning 1 to 4 weeks after an acute exposure which may or may not have produced more immediate symptoms. In such cases, numbness, tingling, weakness and cramping may appear in the lower limbs and progress to incoordination and paralysis. Improvement may occur over months or years, but some residual impairment may remain in some cases (
9).
Naled may cause dermatitis (skin rashes) and skin sensitization (allergies) (
2,
6). It is corrosive to the skin and eyes and may cause permanent damage (
3).
From
AMVAC Chemical Corporation ( the makers of Dibrom) :
DANGER! POISON! CORROSIVE! An off-white to straw yellow liquid with a
sharp, pungent odor that causes irreversible eye and skin damage. May be
fatal if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through skin and eyes. Is a
cholinesterase inhibitor. Rapidly absorbed through skin. Repeated inhalation
or skin contact may, without symptoms, progressively increase susceptibility to
organophosphate (including Naled) poisoning. May be an aspiration hazard.
May cause an allergic reaction.
Product is combustible.
Toxic to fish, birds, and other wildlife.
It's no wonder that they don't tell us what they are spraying!
All of the FAQ answers keep disclaiming that there are no human effects, when used according to label directions. (makes me want to know who is driving the spray trucks and planes and who is mixing the product. 
