By MARTIN JOHNSTON
People subjected to the aerial insecticide spraying in Auckland have reported suffering almost 1400 bad effects last year, says an opponent of the campaign.
Hana Blackmore, a founding member of the Painted Apple Moth Community Coalition, says in a report she will present to a public meeting in
West Auckland today that headaches, eye problems and coughs are the main health complaints.
The Blackmore report is pitched as a record of community experiences rather than a scientific study.
It is based on 1397 social effects, such as receiving allegedly incorrect information from MAF, and health symptoms ranging from eye irritation to a convulsion, reported by 315 people.
Hana Blackmore said she had received reports from a further 140 people this year.
The interim report comes as the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry indicates that the three-weekly blanket spraying may stop in April because moth catches by its monitoring programme are declining sufficiently.
MAF declined to comment on Hana Blackmore's report.
"It needs to be analysed by epidemiologists and health experts," said a spokeswoman for Ian Gear, the director of the $90 million moth-eradication project.
Yesterday's aerial operation was suspended at 10.50am due to rising air temperatures.
The operation is expected to recommence today or on the first day that weather permits.
If aircraft are in the air on a school day there will be no flying between 8 to 9am, 12.15 to 1pm and 3 to 4pm.
Herald feature: Environment
