CNY Central is taking a closer look at what happens during mosquito spraying.
Dr. Lawrence Abrahamson of SUNY ESF says usually, spraying is not harmful to people or pets. Dr. Abrahamson says the chemical that is most commonly used is called Anvil. During spraying, very small droplets are released in an effort to kill the mosquitoes in the air.
Dr. Abrahamson says because the droplets are so small, they're not normally a danger to people or pets. However, people with pre-existing health problems may want to stay inside while the spraying is actually occurring.
"It's relatively non-toxic," says Abrahamson. "It's really not a serious problem to mammals or humans because of the very small amount that's going out,"
Mosquito spraying is usually done at dusk. Dr. Abrahamson says by the following day, most of the chemicals have dissipated in water and sunlight.
Abrahamson says, no matter how much spraying is done, it's important to protect yourself from mosquitos because they can be attracted to something as simple as Carbon Dioxide. They can also be attracted to sweat or perfume.
Oswego County has just received approval from the State Health Department for spraying. So far the county has not yet determined the areas that will be affected.
For information from the State Health Department on some of the other chemicals that can be used for mosquito control, click here.
