Abstract

Aerial pesticide spraying for WNV mosquito control and health complaints
Track: Health and Human Services
Authors: Estella Geraghty

In the summer of 2005, Sacramento County in California had the greatest number of human cases of West Nile virus in the country. Emergency measures were taken to quickly reduce mosquito populations. In particular, aerial spraying of pyrethrin pesticides was performed. However, there was widespread fear among county residents that exposure to the pesticide would lead to health problems. GIS was used to determine exposure status for all Sacramento county citizens by their residential zip code. Adding parcel and zoning data helped to further define those at risk for exposure to aerially sprayed pesticide. Then we performed other statistical analyses to determine the extent to which pesticide exposure correlated with any acute emergency room or hospital diagnoses.

Estella Geraghty
University of California, Davis
4150 V Street
PSSB Suite 2400
Sacramento, California 95817
United States
Phone: 916-734-5265
Fax: 916-734-2732
E-mail: DrGeraghty@aol.com