New Jersey, Sussex County

I just returned from my NJ summer place. I went to do some research and came back with some interesting stories. Upon my arrival I met the security chief. She, her husband, children and grandchildren live in a house we provide them. The house is on Sleepy Hollow Road. On June 27 and 29the the County of Sussex sprayed malathion on Sleepy Hollow Road. I asked if there was any adverse health affects from the spraying and she initially said "no." I asked if anyone in her home had runny nose, cough, wheeze, tiredness and feeling of flu coming on, chest pains. Bingo! She started to tell me how her 8 year old grandson is having chest pains and they are taking him to the doctor on Monday. Oh! and maybe, my daughter who just had heart surgery and feels horrible with the symptoms you just described was affected. And, come to think of it, my back and knees are killing me since they sprayed. Uh-huh!

I went to my next door neighbor who is also located close to the road. He told me he was on the road when they were spraying and he wondered why there was a cloud and thought it was dirt from the truck in front of him with the yellow lights turning on top of it. He said, "I realized it was coming from the truck and started to frantically close my windows and vents and when I got home, I threw up."  He said he had blurry vision and still feels congested and has a constant runny nose. ( This man really got doused)

I called another neighbor who told me she was feeling ill when I saw her last week. That's what made me think about the spraying, for I was ill too. After I started to ask questions and found out they sprayed malathion on two dates, one after the other, I couldn't believe it. My neighbor told me she is still coughing, has a runny nose and feels weak. She added that her 13 years old grandson who is visiting is complaining about the same things.

We have a newsletter each week. I called the person who writes a column for our village and she is putting the symptoms in her column. While I was telling her what they were, she said, " you know Joyce, so many people are complaining about feeling 'not right'." They keep saying it's such a beautiful day and I feel lousy. Bingo again!

Here we go again. Education time. Consciousness raising is essential. I promise as I did saying they "will not spray malathion in NY" that they "will not spray malathion in Sussex County." In fact, the mosquito control person, after he hears from the state DEP will think twice before spraying. It was chilling when the DEP Investigater said "they probably used malathion because it's cheaper." They're supposed to use it as a "last resort." There's that familiar term again!

It is important for all who are aware to be on top of the spraying situation and have each and every person call Jerry Blondell at the EPA. He is in charge of incident reports and your local poison control center or health department.

If you want Blondell's number let me know.

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