State spraying forever chemcials to kill mosquitoes

 Something to ponder when the State wants to spray your property to kill mosquitoes. Many environmentalists have sounded the alarm over the chemicals used to kill the little buggers for years. You can always opt out of the spraying program. You can read what the State has to say about it and how to opt out here: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/mosquito-control-and-spraying

 By David Abel Globe Staff,Updated December 1, 2020, 8:27 a.m.

Mosquito spraying in Southeastern Massachusetts in 2006.The Boston Globe/Boston Globe

For two decades, state environmental officials have used a controversial pesticide to kill mosquitoes in Massachusetts, spraying millions of acres from the air and ground to reduce the spread of Eastern equine encephalitis.

Now, after years of criticism from environmental advocates who have long raised health concerns about the expensive treatment known as Anvil 10+10, the pesticide has been found to also contain an array of toxic compounds known as PFAS. The so-called “forever chemicals,” which are found in a range of commercial products and never fully degrade, have been linked to cancer, low infant birth weights, and a range of diseases.

The amount of some of the chemicals found in the pesticide — which has been used in at least 25 other states — exceeds recent safety limits imposed by the state for drinking water. Given the amount of pesticide used, and how widely it has been dispersed over the years, specialists say it’s likely that the chemicals have leached into ground water and other water sources.