WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN
CREATING POLICY CHANGE IN MOSQUITO MANAGEMENT! WHAT IS
NEXT?
No Spray Nashville is a group of local citizens and scientists who
support responsible pest management and disease prevention by following
scientific protocol and Integrated Pest Management. We formed in 2003
when the Nashville Metro Public Health Department began mass spraying
pesticides in our neighborhoods. At the time, spray truck drivers were
spraying pedestrians and staff members were violating federal law by
saying the pesticide was "safe." The department followed little to no
scientific protocol and frequently did not use the most effective and
least toxic forms of mosquito control first. We have been successful in
changing many of these problems.
The last time the Metro Public
Health Department mass sprayed Nashville
neighborhoods for mosquitoes was in 2008. We used the department's own data from 2008 to convince the director of health to make changes. Read about it. (Click here.)
SO, WHAT IS NEXT? We will continue to track what actions the
department takes to manage mosquitoes when populations are high or
disease is present. We are working to reduce pesticide use or improve
policies in schools, parks, and government agencies. We will continue to
work on education and outreach to citizens.
Improving School Policies - Make
sure your child's school or day care has a good integrated pest
management policy and follows it.
EXCELLENT TIPS FOR MOSQUITO CONTROL
We highly recommend that
citizens take advantage of the most effective and economic form of
mosquito control (source: the Center for Disease Control) - go
outside, look for, and dump standing water. See
our Neighborhood Flyer for a number of excellent mosquito control
tips. Share our flyer with your neighbors. Remember - a mosquito that
cannot hatch cannot bite!
BEWARE OF EXTERMINATING COMPANIES MAKING PROMISES OF "MOSQUITO-FREE"
OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTS
There are some new local franchises (like
Mosquito Squad and BuzzOff) that will come spray your yard every 21 days
or install a
misting system. Any company that makes mosquito-free claims is
looking to make money on people's fears. Not only will it hurt your
pocket book, it is a risk to your health and the environment.
If your backyard is full of mosquitoes, you have a breeding ground close
by. Does it make sense to use poison over and over or eliminate the
source of the problem and use personal protection? See our Neighborhood
Flyer link (above) to learn about safe and effective mosquito control.
Knowledge is power!
JUDGE RULES
METRO SPRAY TRUCK DRIVER BREACHED HIS DUTY AND WAS NEGLIGENT IN
PEDESTRIAN SPRAYING INCIDENT. Metro must pay for the man's emergency room visits.
Click here for
article!
LEARN FROM THE PAST - VOW
TO NEVER LET OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT VIOLATE OUR TRUST AND OUR HEALTH
AGAIN From 2003-2008, Nashville's Metro Public Health Department
violated federal law, sprayed pedestrians with pesticides, failed to
follow their own policies, and constantly failed to use common sense
protocols when trying to manage mosquitoes. Click here to
learn more about these violations.
NO SPRAY DOES NOT MEAN NO
MOSQUITO CONTROL!
Cities that elected to use safer methods of mosquito control have
controlled mosquitoes and West Nile virus as well as those that have
sprayed. (See
our comparative analysis.) So, if there are less toxic and
less costly methods available that are equally as effective, why do
cities still mass spray neighborhoods with pesticide?
No Spray Nashville worked for six years to bring RESPONSIBLE MOSQUITO
CONTROL to Nashville! Learn about local
scientists who spoke out.
Improving School Policies
