downtoearth-subscribe

Fighting mosquitoes

Fighting mosquitoes  not malathion the pesticide, but the fish Gambusia affinis will be used this year by the New York City administration to fight mosquitoes. Health commissioner Neal L Cohen said the city had decided not to use malathion as it was under a safety review by the us Environmental Protection Agency ( epa ).

Instead, millions of the tiny mosquito larvae-eating Gambusia affinis will be dropped into the city's waste treatment plants. The fish, which will be confined to the plants, multiply rapidly and can consume hundreds of mosquito larvae in one day. This latest move is in keeping with a campaign to prevent another outbreak of the West Nile virus.

Last year, the city had sprayed malathion with the help of helicopters and greatly unnerved environmentalists and city residents. Environmental groups and public advocacy organisations, along with thousands of local people, had protested against the use of malathion as its possible effects on children, pets and roof gardens had not been properly determined.

Related Content