Ground Spraying in Eastlake Neighborhood

Seattle, WA April 2005

The WSDA used a moderately high-pressure ground sprayer to do the spraying of Foray 48XG solution in the Eastlake neighborhood. Roughly 10 State employees conducted the sprayings, which lasted for several hours during the day in the neighborhood. This is a welcome change from the past, when contractors (who seemed to be a little less precise) were hired by the state and merely supervised.

Sprayings were also conducted on three Friday evenings in a park adjacent to an elementary school.

The higher pressure sprayer and nozzles now can reach up to 50 feet,
releasing a sizable cloud of fine particles.

This dwelling can't avoid having a
good dose of Foray 48XG seeping in.
Hope they took a long vacation.

State worker hastily dons mask
after drifting pesticide mist floats over her.

The applicator and some of the entourage did not seem to think that they needed any protection other than gloves. The clouds of spray were quite acrid, though. Even through a HEPA filter mask I could detect a bitter taste from the volatile components of the spray (none of which are known to the public). It was clearly bothering some of the workers, who got masks after they began to cough from the irritating substances. Hours later, I had irritated lungs, though I did not inhale any of the main active ingredient, Bacillus thuringiensis var kurstaki.
To check on what might be in the spray, why it might be harmful, and to review safer and cheaper alternatives, go to our home page.

Spray being applied to conifers, which
Euro/American gypsy moth caterpillars cannot eat.

Applying spray to rhododendron, another plant
that does not harbor gypsy moths.

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