Tell residents everything about effects of Dimilin
Guest Column
KATHLEEN GRAY
Iam concerned that only certain facts are being presented to the people of Jackson in regard to the use of Dimilin and what its effect would be on the people of Jackson and the environment.

In the Jan. 3 Tri-Town News article "Council Members Report Findings About Dimilin," there was some very important information left out. Jackson Councilwoman Emily Ingram stated that "she has researched Dimilin and wanted to share her research. She did not say whether she believes Dimilin should be used on the gypsy moths."

"Dimilin kills larvae by disrupting the growth," Ingram said. "It is used to control gypsy moth populations and [certain other insects] in cotton, soybeans, etc. No human effects are likely from exposure to Dimilin as it is used in pesticide treatment programs."

Ingram said Dimilin is absorbed or eaten by animals and is quickly broken down and excreted and does not accumulate in the body. She said Dimilin does not run into streams and rivers during rain storms and is not taken up by plant roots.

It is, however, persistent on leaf surfaces and may remain in the leaf for at least one year after spraying.

"Animals such as, cows, sheep, goats, horses, birds, wildlife, earthworms, mollusks and mammals are not affected by exposure to Dimilin," she said. "Dimilin is not toxic to fish."

She cited Virginia Department of Health toxicologist Ram K. Tripathi as the source of her information. I found this report online and you can read it at http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/Epidemiology/ PublicHealthToxicology/documents/pdf/di milin.pdf

Please note that the report is from 1996 - which means the information in this report is 12 years old.

That report also states about Dimilin that "it is highly toxic to juvenile life stages of aquatic crustaceans (shrimps and water fleas) and many aquatic insects (mayflies and caddis flies). Adult insects are not affected; however, their fecundity (ability to reproduce) may be affected."

Other information mentioned in the report stated: At very high levels, Dimilin's only direct effect is elevated levels of methemoglobin (an abnormal blood pigment), which reduces the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood.

Alarmed that such important information was "omitted" from research findings mentioned in the Tri-Town News article I decided to do some research of my own. I found some additional information on the New Jersey Conservation Foundation Internet Web site. It shows an article written on March 3, 2007 from the New Jersey Herald News that states:

"In infants, Dimilin has been shown to reduce the level of oxygen in the bloodstream, causing 'blue baby syndrome.' It also breaks down into a probable human carcinogen.

"Dimilin is toxic enough that the federal government advises not to spray it at times when children are most likely to be in the area. Unfortunately, short of a fullscale evacuation, there is no way to ensure this recommended standard can be met in residential areas. Aerial spraying usually occurs in early morning when winds are light and people are out and about commuting. Even during school hours, young children are home, others are on school grounds adjacent to forest patches and accidents happen.

"Dimilin is also a specifically poor choice for use in the Pinelands. It breaks down best in alkaline water and soils. The high soil acidity in the Pinelands delays chemical breakdown for up to two years, posing a great risk to all leaf-eating insects in the food chain for far longer than the intended purpose.

"That risk comes from Dimilin's overall impact on the ecosystem. Because it is such a broad-based pesticide, using Dimilin is a little like using a bazooka to kill a bug. The target will die, but so will a great many other critters in the area. Dimilin's extreme toxicity for aquatic insects and crustaceans like the well-known and eaten blue-claw crab is one reason it is rated as a 'restricted use' chemical by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

"For all of these reasons, gypsy moth control measures since 1985 have followed an integrated approach that includes use of a biological pesticide (rather than chemical) that is not toxic to people or any insects other than butterflies and moths. The (state) Department of Environmental Protection made the right call in keeping the ban on aerial spraying of Dimilin in place."

This article has me very concerned. I live in a wooded community that is surrounded by woods. My children and many other children in my neighborhood play outside. My neighborhood and my yard was infested with caterpillars this past spring and early summer. Spraying in the past of Bt has happened directly over my house and the woods surroundingme. That means Dimilin would be sprayed over my house and would be in my yard.

Dimilin will still be in the leaves that fall in my yard in the fall; the same leaves I will be raking, that my kids will be playing in and jumping in. Dimilin will be in the leaves of the vegetable plants planted in my spring garden that I would normally eat such as lettuce and cabbage. It will be in the water of my pool and any ponds my neighbors have.

As for the Pinelands environment? About half of Jackson's 100 square miles is in the New Jersey Pinelands. Dimilin will directly affect the ecosystem of this protected area. I do not see how Jackson council members or Mayor Mark Seda can even think about spraying Dimilin in any shape or form in our town and say it will be safe for residents and the environment.

While I agree something must be done to save our trees and end this caterpillar infestation, itmust be done in a way that is safe for people and the environment. All information, good and bad, must be presented to the people of Jackson, not bits and pieces of reports to suit an agenda.

I encourage everyone to go online and read the articles and reports in their entirety. Do not rely on our council to give you all the information on Dimilin. The information I found clearly shows there is more to Dimilin than what our town representatives have told us or perhaps want us to know.

Kathleen Gray is a resident of Jackson.