Report dismisses claims of ill health from spraying

Thousands of households were exposed up to 69 times to the spray. Picture / Kenny Rodger

Claims by West Aucklanders that they suffered health effects from aerial insecticide spraying have been virtually dismissed in a report made public yesterday.

The independent report by Australian toxicologist Dr Peter Di Marco comes just as a "people's inquiry" into health effects of aerial insecticide spraying opened in West Auckland.

The report was done for Waitakere City Council to find out exactly what ingredients were in the Foray 48B, or Btk, spray used against the painted apple moth pest between 1999 and 2003.

After the council attempted to get the information on the spray, kept secret by the manufacturer, the Office of the Ombudsmen ruled a list of ingredients should be given to a third party to assess.

Dr Di Marco concluded the ingredients in Foray 48B were not injurious to health.

The report said while the spray might cause some irritation to skin, eyes and upper respiratory tract at high exposure, those effects were "unlikely to be seen in exposed communities in spray areas" because of the low concentration of the spray in the air.

The report concludes health concerns by West Aucklanders were likely to have been caused by aerial spraying itself or "associated adverse media publicity".

Thousands of households were exposed to the spray up to 69 times.

Waitakere City Councillor Penny Hulse said Dr Di Marco's report came as no surprise. "Our concern is with individuals who have definite effects from the spray, the issue still stands for us," she said.

Residents gave at-times tearful testimony on the first day of the people's inquiry. One woman said she suffered chemical burns, another that she suffered toxic poisoning.

Among those appearing are anti-pesticide campaigners, scientists and West Auckland residents.

They will give evidence before four "commissioners" on effects of the spray. Commissioners include an anti-pesticides activist from the Philippines, Professor Romy Quijano, and an associate professor in philosophy from a community college in Seattle, Dr Tom Kerns. The other two commissioners are Canterbury University senior lecturer in the School of Political Science and Communication, Dr Joanna Goven and Dell Wihongi.