Automated Mosquito Misting Systems

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Automated Mosquito Misting Systems

• Region 6 States SFIREG Issue Paper
• TX, LA, NM, AR, OK
• Bonnie Rabe, Bureau Chief
• New Mexico Department of Agriculture

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Region 6 Issue Paper

• Misting systems utilized historically in
  agriculture around barns, pens, or other
  structures on the farm or interior commercial use
• Now marketed for urban homeowner use
• Concerns
• Installation by companies not previously in pest
  management
• Marketing of systems - Total Protection for Your
  Family and Loved Ones, Safe
• Homeowner maintenance of systems
• Lack of specific label directions or precautions
• Other uses of Automated technology

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System Installations

• Region 6 states seeing heavy marketing for
  systems - franchise opportunities
• Construction, landscape design maintenance,
  property management companies little or no
  pesticide experience
• Consumer protection -- the level of oversight of
  these operators is insufficient to ensure the
  homeowners are not going to be ripped off or that
  the systems are being installed and run to
  protect the environment.
• Lack of efficacy data concerning the types of
  nozzles, nozzle spacings etc. that are needed to
  obtain stated benefits
• Installation primary focus maintenance optional
  service, left to homeowner

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Marketing

• Public Health Protection claims
• Safe
• Claims contrary to label - how and where can use
• Varying recommendations
• Lack of efficacy data that demonstrate that these
  systems provide a real benefit or the degree to
  which they truly control mosquitos

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Fully Automated Systems
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We can place the nozzles near your children's
favorite places to play.
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The system can be directed towards the pool,
protecting you and your family
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Exposure Risks

• Automation aspect unsupervised applications
• Label states Do not apply when children or
  pets are present
• Remote control units allow possible control by
  children playing with the system
• Pesticides sold or provided to the homeowners to
  maintain the system without info on proper
  mixing, use, disposal, and the potential for harm
  may add anything
• Large quantities of pesticide stored in
  residential site
• Labels do not specifically address use in
  systems, including precautions different risk
  criteria when misused
• Liability? Insurance coverage?

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NonTarget Exposure

• Off Site Drift
• set to automatically spray often when no effect
  on the pest
• Spray drift in windy and/or rainy conditions
• Installed systems spraying around homes under the
  eaves, around pools, dining patios and play
  structures without regard for possible
  consequences on neighboring property
• Use on property bordering wildlife areas may draw
  animals as a watering source
• Birds may utilize the installed lines to perch
  and utilize nozzles as a water source
• In NM and other western states, potential for use
  to be applied to outdoor evaporative cooling,
  through addition of a pesticide

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IP Recommendations

• Since little authority is available to fully
  regulate automated misting systems as application
  equipment, and to provide the most direct
  solution, EPA should specifically disallow this
  use in urban environments
• Labels should specifically address the use and
  precautionary language of pesticides for
  automated misting systems in residential
  (including both single and multifamily dwellings)
  areas, including schools and daycares
• Regulatory officials will then have the authority
  to regulate this use as a label violation
• This action is also necessary to maintain EPAs
  goal of promotion of Integrated Pest Management
  (IPM) and protection of the environment and
  public health from pesticide misuse
• EPA has an opportunity for proactive prevention
  of harm to human health and the environment
  through issuance of a PR notice to manufacturers,
  developed to require label language prohibiting
  residential uses of pesticides in automated
  misting systems

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Further Uses of Automation

• Lawn chemigation systems
• In-wall application systems
• Primary issue of homeowner intervention in
  maintenance of systems and use of pesticides
• Backwards? contrary to reduced use, IPM?

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Ongoing State Action to Address

• Disallowing use
• Policy Statements to address
• Regulation changes
• Considered distribution to require licensing
• The suspension, cancellation, may be made if
  the Board finds A person has used methods or
  pesticides not suitable or safe for the purpose
  for which they have been employed
• Educating consumers
• Press release
• Information on website
• Others?

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• Timed applications occur regardless of weather,
  use of the area etc.
• Efficacy -- I have seen no data that demonstrate
  that these systems provide a benefit or the
  degree to which they control mosquitos. Nor have
  I seen data concerning the types of nozzles,
  nozzle spacings etc. that are needed to maximize
  the benefits. This is just open to all kinds of
  fraud.
• Consumer protection -- the level of oversight of
  these operators is insufficient to ensure the
  homeowners are not going to be ripped off or that
  the systems are being installed and run to
  protect the environment.

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Thank You!