DO NOT CALL THE MANSFIELD  BOARD OF HEALTH REGARDING MOSQUITO SPRAYING.

 Bristol County Mosquito Control Project

Notification of mosquito adulticide applications.

Below is the State Reclamation and Mosquito Control  Board (SRB) Policy, voted on 02/26/02 related to public notification  of mosquito adulticide applications. The purpose of our adulticiding  program is to control nuisance and/or disease carrying adult  mosquitoes. Our adult program will begin on Wednesday, May 23,  weather permitting.

The control material being used will be Anvil (Sumithrin, EPA  Reg. #1021- 1688-8329) applied in ultra low volume sprayers at a  rate of 0.0036 lbs A.I. /Acre or less.

The following number: 1-508-747-8726 is furnished, on a 24-hour  basis from May 1 through October 31, to allow residents access to  schedules and locations of adulticiding a day in advance to  applications. I want to emphasize that this number will not be used  to request spraying.

(NOTE from the Mansfield Board of  Health:  This number is only for information to residents who have  requested spraying.  Given the extensive number of locations to be  sprayed we can not tell you who is being sprayed,)

Our office will be open Monday-Friday between the hours of  8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for spraying requests and to obtain further  information. Our office number is 508-823-5253. We can also be  reached via fax, 24 hours a day, at 508-828-1868.

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact  us.

DO NOT CALL THE MANSFIELD  BOARD OF HEALTH REGARDING MOSQUITO SPRAYING.
 

Sumithrin (ANVIL) Fact Sheet

Contents

• What is sumithrin?
• What are the symptoms of  exposure to sumithrin?
• What are the long term effects  of sumithrin?
• How does sumithrin affect  other species?
• How long does sumithrin last  in the environment?
• Sumithrin product labels

What Is Sumithrin?

Sumithrin is a type I pyrethroid  insecticide. Pyrethroids are synthetic versions of a natural  insecticide produced by chrysanthemum flowers.

Although pyrethroids are among the  least toxic insecticides, they are nerve poisons. They act upon  the sodium ion channels in nerve cell membranes.

The pesticide containing sumithrin  being used in NY City and its suburbs is called ANVIL (TM). It  is 10% sumithrin, 10% piperonyl butoxide and 80% inert  ingredients. Piperonyl butoxide makes the pesticide more  effective by preventing insects from detoxifying sumithrin.

Manufacturers are not required to  disclose the inert ingredients, although they may be toxic also.

What Are the Symptoms of Exposure  to Sumithrin?

Inhaling pyrethroid insecticides  can cause coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, runny or  stuffy nose, chest pain, or difficulty breathing.

Skin contact can cause a rash,  itching, or blisters.

Piperonyl butoxide can cause skin  and eye irritation. All the health effects of this chemical have  not been fully researched.

What Are the Long Term Effects of  Sumithrin?

Rats fed high doses (1,000  milligrams per kilogram of body weight or mg/kg) of pyrethrins  (natural versions of pyrethroids) showed liver damage. There is  also evidence that pyrethroids can harm the thyroid.

Pyrethroids, including sumithrin,  have been shown in the lab to disrupt the endocrine system by  mimicking the effects of the female sex hormone estrogen. In  men, endocrine disrupters can lower the sperm count, and in  women they can cause the growth of abnormal breast cells.

Piperonyl butoxide has been  classified by the Environmental Protection Agency as a possible  human carcinogen.

How Does Sumithrin Affect Other  Species?

Sumithrin is not very toxic to  mammals, but it is highly toxic to bees and fish.

How Long Does Sumithrin Last in  the Environment?

The half-life of sumithrin in soil  is one day to sixteen weeks, depending on the type of soil.

Sumithrin Product Labels

ANVIL is a brand name of the  sumithrin product. You can learn more about it from the manufacturer's product label.