AERIAL PESTICIDE SPRAYING BEGINS IN HARRIS COUNTY
by Sarah Morgan

Mosquitoes are making Houston headlines again this week with the discovery of Harris County’s first 2004 West Nile case and the Harris County Mosquito Control Division’s subsequent announcement that this year’s first aerial spraying would be conducted in northwest Harris County on August 3 and August 4.

The Mosquito Control Division’s choice of dates is questionable, as August 3 was National Night Out, bringing many residents outside for barbecues and community activities.

Mosquito control began using aerial spraying in 2002, when West Nile was first discovered in Houston. This time, they sprayed approximately 70,000 acres of land with the insecticide Dibrom. The planes used to apply the chemicals flew over northwest Harris County at about 300 feet.

Though the Mosquito Control Division continues to say that pesticides like Dibrom do not pose any danger to the public, others continue to reject this claim.

Researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina studied the effects of the Dibrom on several types of laboratory animals. These studies showed that Dibrom contributed to an increase in the risk of certain types of cancers, and other studies have shown an increased risk of brain damage, reproductive problems, and respiratory problems. Other studies have also shown that fish that swim in pesticide-contaminated water are smaller than those in cleaner water.

But Ray Parsons, director of mosquito control, said that the chemical Dibrom breaks down very fast so it is virtually undetectable on the ground. He also explained that it is the same chemical that was commonly used in pet flea collars, though such collars are rarely useful now, as the fleas have become immune. But there’s no danger of that happening with mosquitoes, he said, as spraying is done infrequently, whereas the collars were worn for long periods of time.

Aerial spraying is of particular concern to anti-pesticide groups who say that aerial spraying is indiscriminate, coating everything with the pesticide, including organic gardens, swimming pools, bodies of water, and people or pets that may be outside during the time of application, which was scheduled between approximately 9 pm and 4 am.

Sandy Kachur, spokesperson for Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services, said that National Night Out was taken into consideration and the spraying time was adjusted accordingly. She said that the company responsible for the spraying, Aerial Vector Control Technology, uses complicated calculations to monitor wind and other weather factors to make the application process as precise as possible. She also said that the area sprayed was mostly vegetation and was not easily accessible by truck.

Not only is the fear of West Nile Virus causing the Mosquito District to increase its spraying effort, but it seems that clothing companies, too, are jumping on the pesticide bandwagon. This week, Texans for Alternatives to Pesticides, or TAP, denounced Buzz Off Insect Shield insect repellent clothing, which is being sold at outdoor stores across the nation including REI and Talbot’s Kids. The clothing is impregnated with the insect repellent permethrin.

The anti-pesticide group says that it is especially concerned about this clothing because there is no labeling that informs consumers of the possible dangers of pesticides, dangers that are especially harmful to those such as children with weaker immune systems. TAP explained that labels state that the clothes are effective for 25 washings and that they should be washed separately, implying that the pesticide comes off in water. This leads TAP to assume that the chemicals may come off onto the skin and be absorbed into the body.

Last year, the Mosquito Control District conducted three aerial sprays covering approximately 200,000 acres in Harris County. There have been a total of seven deaths in Harris County that have been attributed to West Nile since the virus was first discovered in Houston in 2002. Most people that are infected with the virus show either no symptoms or mild flu-like symptoms, according to Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services.

Parsons said that there are no more aerial sprayings planned for this year at this point, but that could change depending on the number of West Nile mosquitoes found.

For maps of the areas sprayed, visit
http://www.harriscountyhealth.com/hcmosquitoctrl/AerialSprayPlanInfoMaps/aspimdefault.html.

RECENT SHARK BITES PUT GULF DEAD ZONE BACK IN SPOTLIGHT
by Sarah Morgan

Each year, pollution turns thousands of miles of the Gulf of Mexico and other bodies of water into a vast "dead zone," a hypoxic area, devoid of oxygen and unable to support sea life. This year’s dead zone stretches about 5,800 square miles from the mouth of the Mississippi to the Texas border, sitting closer to shore than usual, and driving some marine life closer to shore as well.

Most recently, hypoxia is being blamed for the increase in shark bites along the Gulf of Mexico. Three shark bites have been reported this year, notable because the area has a history of only 18 shark attacks in the last 24 years.

The dead zone is caused by an abundance of nitrates in the water, which leads to an overwhelming amount of algae that thrive in nitrate-rich water. The result is that there is simply not enough oxygen to go around and the marine life must either move on or suffocate.

Nancy Rabalais, a scientist at the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium, told Reuters news services that the excess nitrate was from nitrate-based fertilizers that farmers use, which end up in the Mississippi watershed. Though the US Environmental Protection Agency acknowledges that the dead zone is influenced by pollution, the agency also says that the hypoxia is the result of physical changes to the Mississippi River, such as channelization and loss of natural wetlands and vegetation along the banks, as well as the reactions between salt water and fresh water. The general consensus is that the hypoxic conditions are a result of several factors.

Whatever the causes, the problem is not going away. The EPA notes that the size of the dead zone has doubled since 1993 and Rabalais said that the zone would continue to pop up each year until regulations were put in place to mitigate the level of nitrate that flow into the river.

It seems that this is not just a local phenomenon. Last month, watermen in Maryland were up in arms over the dead zones in the Chesapeake Bay, pointing the finger at sewage plants as well as farmers. The watermen blamed the dead zones for the decline in fishing harvests and the drop in the amount of underwater grasses, noted as an important part of the bay’s ecosystem.

The EPA responded with promises of a large-scale effort to curb pollution in the bay, but environmentalists claim the EPA’s language is too vague and that real results are doubtful.

Currently, for the Gulf of Mexico, the EPA’s focus seems to be aimed at research, not regulation.

TREES FOR HOUSTON URBAN FORESTREE KEEPER PROGRAM

Urban ForesTree Keeper is a basic tree-care course offered each year by Trees For Houston, a nonprofit group dedicated to the orderly and organized planting of trees in Houston. The class teaches Houstonians the basics of tree identification, proper planting techniques, site suitability, pruning, fertilization, and after-planting care. The course also emphasizes the important environmental role trees play in our city. The goal of the Urban ForesTree Keeper Program is to provide a volunteer-based resource for local municipalities, school districts, and neighborhood associations in the greater Houston area. The classes are held Tuesdays in September, with the first class scheduled for September 7. Seating is limited, so pre-registration is encouraged. For more information or to register, call (713) 840-8733 or visit http://www.treesforhouston.org/newpages/keeper.html.

BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP GEARS UP FOR A BUSY FALL

Already hard at work on a 23-acre park from Sabine to Bagby, the Buffalo Bayou Partnership has had a productive summer. Now the partnership is readying for an even busier fall with Blues on the Bayou in October, several canoe trips, tree plantings, and more. Their next event will be the "History of Buffalo Bayou and Lunch at Rainbow Lodge," Sunday, September 26,where historian Janet Wagner and primitive skills expert Neal Stilley will talk about the history of the bayou. The Sabine-to-Bagby park, which is located just behind the Hobby Center, will feature hike and bike trails, a new pedestrian bridge, and public art. This park, which will serve as a flood buffer, will be open to the public in the fall of 2005, and is one example of the work the partnership has been doing since its inception in 1986. For more information about all of the partnership’s ongoing activities, visit http://www.buffalobayou.org/

SIMS BAYOU TRAIL OPEN HOUSE

The Galveston District of the US Army Corps of Engineers will host an open house August 9 at the Hilton Houston Hobby Airport to present the proposed recreation plans for the Sims Bayou Flood Damage Reduction Project. The purpose of the plan is to provide flood damage reduction along Sims Bayou in south central Houston and Harris County. As part of this plan, the Corp of Engineers and the City of Houston are working to develop a recreation plan. The recreational portion of the proposed project includes 14 miles of new hike and bike trails along the banks of Sims Bayou, plans for which will be presented at the open house. Displays and illustrations outlining the proposal will be available, and citizens will be able to submit written comments during and following the open house. If unable to attend, citizens may still request information and submit written comments by writing to comments@simsbayoutrail.com.

TEXAS FOREST SERVICE 2004 URBAN FORESTRY PARTNERSHIP GRANT

The Texas Forest Service, the agency responsible for protecting and enhancing the state's forest resources, offers financial assistance in the form of challenge grants. The Partnership Grants are designed to start or improve a local urban forestry program or to educate the public about the importance of urban trees. Grant awards range from $1,000 to $10,000 and must be matched dollar-for-dollar (except for the application for a new professional staff position, for up to $30,000). Applicants may include any local or state government entity, schools, or nonprofit groups. Application deadline is July 15, 2004. To apply, e-mail the program secretary at lscasta@tfs.tamu.edu, or visit: http://www.texasforestservice.tamu.edu
Go to the Urban Forestry page and click the link for grants.

CONSUMER GUIDE DETAILS ILLS AND ALTERNATIVES FOR COMMON PRODUCTS

A free online consumer guide published in March by the Worldwatch Institute describes the environmental, social, and health harms associated with a wide range of products, including appliances, baby products, DVDs, clothing, cell phones, and food. The guide takes a behind the scenes look at how products are made, and offers simple advice and alternatives that enable people to reduce some of the ills associated with the things they buy.
For each product, the guide also describes successful efforts by governments, businesses, and nonprofit groups around the world to reduce negative impacts associated with common products.
http://www.worldwatch.org/pubs/goodstuff

NEW REPORT IN PARKS FOR PEOPLE SERIES

The Trust For Public Land’s Parks for People initiative works in cities across America to ensure that everyone--in particular every child--enjoys access to a park, playground, or open space. A new Parks for People report by Peter Harnik, director of TPL's Center for City Park Excellence, highlights the need for parks in Newark, New Jersey. The report's release follows by several months the publication of TPL's Parks for People white paper, which makes the case for new city parks nationwide. Upcoming Parks for People publications will focus on other US cities.
http://www.tpl.org/tier3_cd.cfm?content_item_id=13843&folder_id=175

A HANDBOOK FOR ACTIVISTS

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Wilderness Act, Wilderness Forever has created a handy-dandy guide to taking action. Learn how to draft your own action letters, organize enjoyable activism events, and get in touch with local media.
To obtain your own tree-free version of the guide:
http://www.wildernessforever.org/action/index.html
Learn more about the Wilderness Act:
http://www.wilderness.org/OurIssues/Wilderness/act.cfm

EPA SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS

The EPA Summer Opportunities for Students website is now up and running. The site provides a web portal through which students may enter to learn about EPA programs, offices, and summer employment opportunities. They also will be able to submit a job application directly to the EPA location where there is a vacancy.
http://www.epa.gov/ohros/student