Citizens cite 'other' side to insecticide spraying

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition

September 26, 2002 -- Because West Nile Virus (WNV) is a rapidly spreading problem, many communities and counties have organized an insecticide spraying programs to combat the virus-spreading mosquito.

But in one South Central Texas community, one group of citizens is stressing there is a harmful side to the approach.

In Wimberley, there is a group of chemically-sensitive people who moved to the small town because of the clean air and space. They are currently trying to educate the public as to the detrimental side of spraying for the mosquitoes.

"We have a lot of chemically-sensitive people who have moved to this area. When they (Hays County) wanted to start spraying, that's when we started our fight," said Donna Bullock of Wimberley.

One of Bullock's son, Glenn, owns Hill Country Natural Foods, and they have gotten to know many of the citizens of the community over the past 16 years. Some of the customers are chemically sensitive, and others are just trying to practice good, safe health.

While Wimberley is not the only "no spray" area in Hays County, it's the one who made the most news, trying to get the word out about the dangers they feel come with the spraying.

One particular citizen, Stephanie Reynolds, moved to Wimberley from Michigan on the advice of a doctor at the Dallas Environmental Health Center.

"The doctor up there, down through the years, has told them (patients) that Wimberley is a safe place to live, and the reason Wimberley is a safe place to live is because we don't have any spraying," said Bullock.

Reynolds said although others who are "chemically sensitive," like herself, are most at risk, her reason for joining the protesters includes all of the citizens of any area.

"I'm against it because it hasn't been proven safe ... for everyone, it's different. It depends on if your weak area is your respiratory system. When those people get around pesticides, they will experience bronchial problems, so it depends on your weakest area," Reynolds explained.

Growing up on a farm in Michigan, Reynolds feels, and doctors agree, she was poisoned by the pesticides sprayed on crops in the area. They affected her nervous system to the extent that being around almost all chemicals causes seizures.

"The more we looked into this, we found that these chemicals, the insecticides they (Hays County) were proposing to spray ... they are not tested on humans. The Health Department and everyone we spoke to kept saying how safe they were ... they wouldn't hurt you or your pets. They, by

law, can't sat that. They have not been tested on humans, and the long-term studies are not there," she added.

With Reynolds, it's a matter of life or death, and she is hoping to help spread the word and educate the public concerning the dangers of spraying.

"I'm sure if people knew the facts, they wouldn't want to be sprayed, either," she said.

In addition to how the pesticides affect humans, Reynolds said there have been studies that show the pesticide exposure to the mosquitoes might be mutating them and making them better able to spread the virus.

As far as spraying on properties adjacent to those who choose not to spray, Reynolds is concerned about human error, as well as the drifting problems caused by the wind.

In the past couple of months, the protesting group gathered over 700 names on petitions to present to the Hays County Commissioners Court. According to Bullock, they asked to be on the agenda every time they could. They even tried to send the sprayers back and get some of the $35,000 back, once the commissioners decided to adhere to the "no spray" area of Wimberley Village.

Reynolds said that while two of the commissioners were in favor of the "no spray," the other two would not commit either way.

One county commissioner in favor of the "no spray" idea is Susie Carter. "I've been keeping in touch with the state health department (regarding West Nile Virus). They say backyard mosquitoes are not well addressed by spraying."

Carter noted backyards are where most resident's potted plants and pet water bowls are. (Standing water is prime mosquito breeding sites.) Spraying from the streets is not an effective way of dealing with mosquitoes because the spray will not travel up and over the homes to reach the backyards.

"And if you spray today, it will not affect the larva and eggs in the water," Carter said. "And mosquitoes are only killed if hit by a drop of spray. ... Scientifically, spraying is not the best way to address the problem."

Reynolds added that the spraying of insecticide is not good for anyone. "That's the point that I want to make."

Commissioner Carter also noted that the insecticides used are broad spectrum, which can kill the beneficial insects which eat mosquitoes.

A call to Hays County Commissioner Bill Burnett, who serves Precinct 3 which includes Wimberley, was unanswered at press time.

According to Hays County Extension Agent Rachel Bauer, there have been no cases of WNV found in Hays County, to her knowledge.

Reynolds will continue to fight to educate the public and stresses that all effects of the pesticides may not manifest themselves, immediately.

"Wait 30 years. It does have an effect," she said.