Fipronil
CAS No. 120068-37-3
Tick box plan kicked out of Nahanton
May 18, 2005. Newton TAB (Massachusetts)
 
 

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Newton TAB (Massachusetts)
on Townonline.com

May 18, 2005

Tick box plan kicked out of Nahanton

By Karla Hailer-Fidelman/ Correspondent

In 2003, Newton had 22 reported cases of Lyme disease, a bacterial infection transmitted by deer ticks which, if not treated early, can cause long-term joint, heart and nervous system problems.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, there were 257 reported cases of Lyme disease in Middlesex County in 2003.

Massachusetts has a rate that is almost three times higher than the national average and ranks fifth nationwide in terms of occurrence, with the highest number of cases occurring on the Cape and Islands as well as the area immediately around Quabbin Reservoir.

So when a partnership of Waltham Services and Baer [sic, Bayer] Corporation approached the city to test a "car wash for mice" in Nahanton Park - to control the tick population and reduce the spread of Lyme disease - the Department of Public Health and the Integrated Pest Management listened.

After receiving a positive reaction from these groups, the companies gave their presentation at the Recreation Commission for approval at its meeting Monday night, May 16.

The boxes, which cannot be opened, making them child- and pet-safe, have a wick that has been soaked with the chemical Fipronil, the same chemical used in a flea and tick treatment called "Frontline" for household pets, and some bait to attract small rodents such as mice and chipmunks. The rodents pass through the box and brush under the wick, receiving a dose of Fipronil that then kills the ticks that cause Lyme disease.

Early tests throughout the Northeast and the East Coast seem to show that there is little danger to the public and it is a practical approach to the concern of Lyme disease. The wicks dry out after approximately 90 days and are replaced with a new set of boxes.

The program appeared to be on a fast track for approval until Duane Hillis from Friends of Nahanton Park and Ellie Goldberg from Green Decade argued against the program.

Because the boxes would be anchored near community garden plots, members of Friends of Nahanton Park are concerned about the effects of the chemicals on the food stuffs that would be growing not far from the boxes.

"Once [Fipronil] is in, it's not getting out," Hillis said as he pointed out the proximity of the Charles River to the area. "We know this kills blue gills and quail ... let's study this before we use it."

Hillis also pointed out that while the companies would come back to do a study, they would not be returning year after year or checking on long-term resistance to the chemical. Goldberg questioned why the initial response is always a chemical one in spite of growing evidence that diseases and insects are becoming resistant to the chemicals more quickly. She referred to www.bodyburden.org, a study done out of the Mt. Sinai school of medicine in New York, that measured the levels of industrial compounds, pollutants and other chemicals in a number of people. The concern being a little of this and other chemicals commonly used to treat lawns and control insect populations are all tiny amounts, but that they build up in the body and turn into longer-term health problems.

When asked how many of the 22 Newton cases of Lyme disease came from the Nahanton Park area, the response was that nearly all the cases came from people who had traveled to the Cape, and there were no known cases from the Nahanton Park area. Both activists cited that part of the problem could be addressed by Parks and Recreation mowing the meadow area more frequently, thus reducing the amount of brush for mice to use for cover.

Bob DeRubeus from Parks and Recreation said the area is currently mowed once a year, and increasing the schedule to two or three times a year should be feasible.

 When asked, Fran Towle, the Parks and Recreation commissioner, deferred to the recommendations made by the Health Department and IPM. "They're the experts," she said. There were no members from IPM or the Health Department at the meeting to discuss their recommendations.

Andrew Stern, chairman of the Recreation Commission, was visibly uncomfortable with the demonstration boxes placed on the table near him.

"I don't even want to touch the things or pass them around," he said. At that point, the representative from Waltham Pest management removed the boxes, replacing them in his bag. On the other hand, Stern said he was inclined to trust the recommendations from IPM as the head of the commission, Doug Dickson, was named conservator of the year by Green Decade.

He asked when the boxes would need to be anchored in order to be effective, and was told by the end of this month. Noting that a motion to postpone a vote until there was more information would, in effect, delay the study by a year, Stern made a motion to postpone a vote until a later meeting. In the end, there was one abstention, one vote against a postponement and the rest of the commission voted to postpone a decision.

Ward 1 representative Jennie DeVito, who watched the debate with great interest, pointed out the commission just received the information at the evening's meeting with no chance of previous review. She didn't like it, suggesting that the city should first "go back to root [measures]" such as mowing or other methods. "There's no place good enough for your chemical in my city."

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