Giuliani Says Don’t Worry, The Spraying of Poison Gas Will Continue 9/18/99
[Quotations that support each of the claims in this report are included at the end]
by Robert Lederman <ARTISTpres@aol.com>
On Friday Mayor Giuliani announced that the mass spraying of three insecticides on New York City by helicopters, small planes and mobile trucks will resume starting this weekend. According to a careful reading of the Mayor’s press releases the following three undisputed facts are the basis for continuing to spray the City as a response to a possible outbreak of St. Louis Encephalitis [SLE].
1. The NYC Department of Health, The Emergency Management Services and the Center For Disease Control have yet to find a single mosquito infected with the SLE virus.
2. To date, a total of three people are alleged to have died from SLE since it was first diagnosed in NYC.
3. Only 11 cases of what is being officially called SLE are confirmed out of the 80 previously reported and most of those who were affected are already better or are expected to fully recover.
In response to these undisputed facts, the mass spraying of the City’s eight million human beings with Malathion and two other toxic gases, Resmethrin and Sumethrin, is scheduled to resume starting this weekend.
The Mayor continues to insist these chemicals are completely safe, a claim not even their manufacturers make. The NY State Attorney General’s office has specifically warned the Giuliani administration to stop making unjustified claims of complete safety for these chemicals.
On 9/16/99 the Green Party of NY along with a variety of community groups and individuals announced the preparation of a class action lawsuit to stop the indiscriminate spraying. In addition to the thousands of New Yorkers that have been directly sprayed by helicopters and trucks virtually every person residing, working or visiting in NYC during the past two weeks has been repeatedly exposed either directly or indirectly to these chemicals.
Although the announcement about the press conference was listed on the AP daybook only one reporter, from WBAI, showed up to cover the story. While coverage of the spraying has been extensive, there has been virtually no mention in the mainstream media of the health risks these chemicals pose. The closest thing to airing a different view than the Mayor’s on this issue has been the occasional mention in a newspaper article or TV news piece that some New Yorkers irrationally fear the spraying. There’s been no coverage of the fact that aerial Malathion spraying is very controversial and has led to lawsuits in a number of states, or that it is banned in some altogether.
Despite the total exclusion of dissenting voices on this issue the Mayor continues in his paranoid fashion to accuse the media of spreading fear of the chemicals. Presumably, reporters did this by daring to ask him any questions at all about safety. Based on mainstream media reports alone, one might reasonably believe Malathion deserves a place on our dinner tables right next to the salt and pepper or that our kids do poorly in school due to a Malthion deficiency.
While we citizens enjoy the right to wander the City’s Malathion soaked streets the Mayor huddles with his staff inside a gas-proof 13 million dollar fortified bunker in downtown Manhattan planning out our futures. Broadcasting live from the bunker Giuliani stands before a wall of closed circuit tv monitors and issues Orwellian radio and television announcements directing everyone to remain calm and to act as if nothing unusual is happening. Additionally we are advised to seal our windows and to stay indoors.
The so called scientifically proven safety of these chemicals is based on their not causing immediate death or critical illness in humans if carefully applied in small doses. All of these chemicals will kill humans if applied to the skin, inhaled or consumed in larger doses. At the low dosages of Malathion, Resmethrin and Sumethrin that the Mayor claims we’re receiving, harmful effects would not be immediately discernible in healthy people. Those with asthma, AIDs, allergies, chemical sensitivities or other illnesses may have more immediate reactions even at a very low or indirect exposure.
Chemical poisoning, unlike food poisoning or the venom of a snake bite, doesn’t necessarily produce immediate symptoms but can nonetheless be deadly. Exposing children to lead from ordinary house paint causes multiple disorders and diseases but the effects take years to show up. The veterans suffering from Gulf War Syndrome only began to feel ill after returning to the United States. Exposure to asbestos, tobacco, or low level radiation, like exposure to these toxic chemicals, may go unnoticed for decades before illness develops. Possibly the most disturbing aspect of Malathion is its known mutagenicity. Damaging our basic genetic information, while it may or may not produce any immediately observable symptoms in ourselves, passes the potential harm to future generations.
The claims of safety for these chemicals is based on them being used in very low concentrations and applied by trained experts. At no time have they been advertised by their manufacturers as being perfectly safe or as recommended for spraying on humans. Those applying Malathion, Resmethrin and Sumethrin are advised in the manufacturers accompanying instruction manuals to take extreme precautions against breathing the vapors or getting the chemicals on their skin. These chemicals were originally engineered by some of the world’s best scientists in order to kill humans. In addition to the well documented breathing difficulties, allergic reactions and temporary blindness that the Mayor casually admits are possible from even minimal exposure, these chemicals are considered by many experts to cause immune system disorders, cancer, genetic mutations and infertility.
For those lucky enough to be able to access an accurate spraying schedule from their home computer and to have a home to stay inside of, it’s possible to avoid being directly sprayed. That doesn’t mean they aren’t breathing, eating or absorbing a small amount of the chemicals as they are sprayed and misted on all of New York City.
In addition to the mass indirect spraying of the entire population while they sleep thousands of men, women and children have been directly sprayed by helicopters and trucks while they are out on the street. In some instances frightened women and children have had to flee parks that were being sprayed from above. In addition to the aerial spraying from planes, nondescript pickup trucks are slowly driving past apartment houses and stores trailing a foul smelling cloud of gas which rises to the top of buildings and fills the entire street. A residue of these toxic chemicals can later be found on every object, on every plant and animal and in every home. Would you allow someone to spray your bedding and food with a common household insecticide like Raid or allow them to spray it on your body? If not, you should be even less willing to be sprayed with Malathion.
Sadaam Husein and Adolf Hitler are infamous for their use of poison gas. The gases they employed are from the exact same chemical class, organophosphates, as Malthion, Resmethrin and Sumethrin and were invented by some of the same scientists.
Mayor Giuliani’s latest quality of life initiative appears to be to make gassing people an acceptable and routine part of civil government. He expects that as mature, responsible and law abiding citizens we will all take our daily gassing without complaint. The gradual erosion of civil liberties in this City during the past six years may have been intended to prepare us for use as docile guinea pigs in service to the corporate police state.
Please repeat after me: Massive aerial spraying of organophosphates on a civilian population is a safe and effective way to improve quality of life. Malathion is good for us. The Fuhrer is always right.
Robert Lederman, President of A.R.T.I.S.T.
(Artists’ Response To Illegal State Tactics)
ARTISTpres@aol.com (718) 369-2111
http://www.openair.org/alerts/artist/nyc.html
For information on the lawsuit contact:
Afrime Derti (718) 670-7110 or (718) 623-1108 or Mitchell Cohen (718) 623-1108
From: http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/doh/html/public/press99/pr58-917.html
Press Release New York City Department of Health Friday, September 17, 1999
SECOND ROUND OF CITYWIDE SPRAYING FOR MOSQUITOES ANNOUNCED
Mayor Giuliani said, "With the weather forecast projecting calmer weather for this week-end, following yesterday's passing of Hurricane Floyd through the New York City area, we expect to resume mosquito spraying throughout the City to further minimize any risks for transmission of the SLE virus. Based on information from the CDC, the Department of Health (DOH) is now investigating 80 reported illnesses, most of which are not likely to be SLE-related. We will continue to take these necessary steps until we are satisfied that the sources of SLE are eliminated."
Jerome Hauer, Director of the Mayor's Office of Emergency Management (MOEM), said, "Weather permitting, we will resume aerial and ground spraying in New York City using Malathion and pyrethroid-based insecticides, including Resmethrin and Sumethrin, beginning Saturday."
The following is excerpted from the Center for Disease Control Chemical Safety Card on Resmethrin http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ipcs/ipcs0324.html
PREVENT GENERATION OF MISTS!
• INHALATION
Ventilation, local exhaust, or breathing protection. Fresh air, rest. Refer for medical attention.
• SKIN Redness.
Protective gloves. Remove contaminated clothes. Rinse and then wash skin with water and soap.
• EYES Redness. Safety goggles. First rinse with plenty of water for several minutes (remove contact lenses if easily possible), then take to a doctor.
• INGESTION Do not eat, drink, or smoke during work. Wash hands before eating. Rinse mouth. Refer for medical attention
ROUTES OF EXPOSURE:
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its aerosol and by ingestion.
INHALATION RISK:
No indication can be given about the rate in which a harmful concentration in the air is reached on evaporation of this substance at 20°C.
EFFECTS OF SHORT-TERM EXPOSURE:
The substance irritates the eyes and the skin.
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
This substance may be hazardous to the environment; special attention should be given to fish and honey bees.
International Chemical Safety Cards
From: http://ipmworld.umn.edu/chapters/ware.htm
AN INTRODUCTION TO INSECTICIDES By George W.
Ware, Professor Emeritus, Department of Entomology,
University of Arizona Tucson, Arizona
ORGANOPHOSPHATES
Organophosphates is the currently used generic term that includes all insecticides containing phosphorus. Other names used, but no longer in vogue, are organic phosphates, phosphorus insecticides, nerve gas relatives, and phosphoric acid esters. All organophosphates are derived from one of the phosphorus acids, and as a class are generally the most toxic of all pesticides to vertebrates. Because of the similarity of Organophosphate chemical structures to the "nerve gases", their modes of action are also similar. Their insecticidal qualities were observed in Germany during World War II in the study of the extremely toxic Organophosphate nerve gases sarin, soman, and tabun. Initially, the discovery was made in search of substitutes for nicotine, which was heavily used as an insecticide but in short supply in Germany.
PYRETHROIDS [Resmethryn]
The second generation [of PYRETHROIDS] includes tetramethrin (Neo-Pynamin®) (1965), followed by resmethrin
(Synthrin®) in 1967 (20X as effective as pyrethrum), then bioresmethrin (50X as effective as pyrethrum) (1967), then Bioallethrin® (1969), and finally phonothrin (Sumithrin®) (1973).
Mode of action--The pyrethroids share similar modes of action, resembling that of DDT, and are considered axonic poisons. They apparently work by keeping open the sodium channels in neuronal membranes. There are two types of pyrethroids. Type I, among other physiological responses, have a negative temperature coefficient, resembling that of DDT. Type II, in contrast have a positive temperature coefficient, showing increased kill with increase in ambient temperature. Pyrethroids affect both the peripheral and central nervous system of the insect. They initially stimulate nerve cells to produce repetitive dischages and eventually cause paralysis. Such effects are caused by their action on the sodium channel, a tiny hole through which sodium ions are permitted to enter the axon to cause excitation. The stimulating effect of pyrethroids is much more pronounced than that of DDT.
FROM: http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/doh/html/public/press99/pr55-913 .html
Press Release New York City Department of Health
Office of Public Affairs IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, September 13, 1999
"Most people who are infected with the SLE virus will recover. I urge New Yorkers to be calm and cooperative as we continue our surveillance for this virus and do whatever is necessary to protect the health of our City," the Mayor concluded."
"This [the virus] is very, very small and very, very isolated. What we are doing we are doing out of an excess of caution. That's the reality of it," Giuliani said at a packed press conference. The mayor said spraying would continue in the coming weeks "no matter what happens — if we get a lot more suspected cases or very few or none — because we've been told that even when it [the virus] goes into remission, even if you get very few additional cases, this can come back two or three or four weeks from now." He reiterated that the pesticide being used, malathion, is not dangerous to humans or their pets as it is being applied. -Daily News 9/11/99
>From a Malathion manufacturer: United Agri
Products/Sanex/lPCO Malathion, Cythion (malathion)
DANGER POISON Precautions - First Aid: Protect yourself by reducing skin and eye exposure. Wear coveralls, brimmed hard hat, goggles, respirator, unlined nitrile or neoprene gloves, and neoprene overboots or rubber boots. In addition wear a waterproof apron when handling the pesticide concentrate. Follow directions for cleaning of clothes and equipment before reuse. If in eyes or skin use standard first aid measures. If swallowed seek medical attention. Symptoms of poisoning: Headache, weakness, sweating, giddiness, blurred vision, nausea, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and discomfort in chest".
"``Malathion is a poison,'' said Jorge Mancillas, a neurobiologist from California. ``The only reason malathion was developed was to inflict damage on living organisms.'' The panelists discussed how the spraying of malathion might overwhelm a population already burdened with chemicals.``We have no control over the effects when combined with other substances,''
Mancillas said. Another panelist, Dr. Sherry Rogers of Maryland, said once the body's capacity to rid itself of chemicals is reached, the body will store chemicals in body fat, eventually causing cancer". -"Malathion foes challenge state's decision to spray" -8/4/97 Brandenton, Fla Herald
"There's absolutely no danger to anyone from this spraying...There are some people who are engaged in the business of wanting to frighten people out of their minds." Mayor Giuliani-Newsday, 9/14/99
"Currently this is the only evidence of transmission of St. Louis Encephalitis to humans that’s been reported around the country". -Dr. Roger S. Nasci, an expert from the Federal Center for Disease Control on the NYC Encephalitis crisis. 9/15/99 Channel 13 Newshour with Jim Lehrer
"Peter Lehner, the top environmental lawyer in the office of Eliot L. Spitzer, the New York State Attorney General, said...it was important not to gloss over the fact that malathion is a chemical that was designed to kill things, that it had sickened people in the past and that the Federal Environmental Protection Agency prohibits those who sell any pesticide from describing it as harmless. "The E.P.A. clearly says don't call these things harmless, because they are not," Lehner said yesterday. He said his office yesterday called the City Law Department to encourage city officials to change the way they describe malathion." NY Times 9/14/99
Malathion information sites:
http://www.science.mcmaster.ca/Biology/4S03/malathio.htm
http://www.chem-tox.com/malathion/plane/default.htm
http://www.chem-tox.com/malathion/
http://www.chem-tox.com/malathion/research/index.htm
http://www.ncchem.com/malathion.htm
http://unix.adept.net/~mcsinfo/genetic.htm
http://members.tripod.com/C_E_A_S_E/framesindex.htm
For information contact:
Robert Lederman, President of A.R.T.I.S.T. (Artists' Response To Illegal State Tactics), (718) 369-2111
Email: ARTISTpres@aol.com
Website: http://www.openair.org/alerts/artist/nyc.html