Safety of moth spray called into question by study

1.00pm

Anti-spray campaigners are calling for the government to bring a controversial report on the painted apple moth spray out of hiding.

The Sunday Star-Times reported today that a Wellington School of Medicine study, commissioned by the Ministry of Health, is understood to have found the Foray 48B spray could aggravate existing health conditions in some people.

The spray is currently being used to try and eradicate the painted apple moth in west Auckland -- the next round of spraying set for this week -- and has been used against the white-spotted tussock moth in east Auckland and Asian gypsy moth in Hamilton.

Biosecurity Minister Jim Sutton has labelled the study flawed, unsound and biased but Community Health researcher Hannah Blackmore says he cannot turn a blind eye to a study by internationally recognised experts just because he doesn't like what it has to say.

- Newstalk ZB