poison truck making its rounds in Pt Washington

[Indigo Jill]

Two questions??? 1) How many people in the US died from malaria, yellow fever, ext before spraying chemicals became common practice? 2) how many die of cancer caused by "unknown sources"?

Here are just a few of the millions of articles out there - and SoWal historians, didn't an epidemic strike Santa Rosa Beach, killing like 50% or more of the inhabitants here?
Yellow fever epidemics

JACKSONVILLE :: Jacksonville's prominence as a winter resort was dealt another blow by major [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_fever"]yellow fever[/ame] outbreaks in [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1886"]1886[/ame] and [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1888"]1888[/ame], during the latter of which nearly ten percent of the more than 4,000 victims, including the city's mayor, died. In the absence of scientific knowledge concerning the cause of yellow fever, nearly half of the city's panicked residents fled despite the imposition of quarantines and the ineffectual fumigation of inbound and outbound mail. Not surprisingly, Jacksonville's reputation as a healthful tourist destination suffered.

SANFORD, FLORIDA :: But in [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1887"]1887[/ame], the city suffered a devastating fire, followed the next year by a statewide [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epidemic"]epidemic[/ame] of [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_fever"]yellow fever[/ame].

FLORIDA :: "The Panama Canal brought another boon to Florida: weapons against the dreaded yellow fever. Terrifying epidemics of the "black vomit" had swept the state for years; the techniques that cleared the steaming jungles of Panama soon tamed the disease in Florida as well. "

 

[Smiling JOe]

Jill, you must remember that air conditioners were not invented during those times. Today, we spend most of our time in a house with A/C rather than having to leave the windows open, and we also have screens on our windows, which wasn't the case back then. In the those times you mention, people mostly worked outside, being exposed to skeeters and such, but that is not the case today. Not to mention, today, people spray deet on themselves to repel skeeters, in addition to the poison trucks spraying. People should have the right to choose whether or not they want to be sprayed with toxic substances. That's all I'm saying.

 

[Beach Runner]

At minimum, people should be warned when the poison truck will be in their neighborhoods so they can choose to or not to inhale that stuff. I just hate the taste it leaves in my mouth when I breathe it!

 

[30A Skunkape]

Damn poison trucks and cancer. Hey, anybody got a cigarette?

 

[Indigo Jill]

Jill, you must remember that air conditioners were not invented during those times. Today, we spend most of our time in a house with A/C rather than having to leave the windows open, and we also have screens on our windows, which wasn't the case back then. In the those times you mention, people mostly worked outside, being exposed to skeeters and such, but that is not the case today. Not to mention, today, people spray deet on themselves to repel skeeters, in addition to the poison trucks spraying. People should have the right to choose whether or not they want to be sprayed with toxic substances. That's all I'm saying.

Oh yes, I totally agree 100%. Just trying to provide some answers to the question posed.

I do know, when I first moved into my home in Point Washington, we had a "no spray" sign on our block and the truck didn't come down our street. I believe a woman who lived on our block had a lung problem and at that time there were only 2 or 3 that lived on the block so they must've rallied together to get it put up. I don't know what happened but the sign was eventually taken down and now the truck comes down our street.

It may be something to consider for those that don't want the spraying on your block - get together with your neighbors and request this.

 

[Indigo Jill]

At minimum, people should be warned when the poison truck will be in their neighborhoods so they can choose to or not to inhale that stuff. I just hate the taste it leaves in my mouth when I breathe it!

We just take in the dog's water and food bowls and hustle inside/shut windows and doors when we hear the truck in the distance. They come at night here so you can hear them a bit before they appear.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Closing the windows and doors works if you are home when the truck comes by, but what if you don't know it came by and your dogs are drinking the poisoned water and the poison comes in through your open windows?

As I understand it, the NO SPRAY signs are issued per property upon request. My neighbor across the street has a no spray sign, yet the truck stops spraying when he reaches the sign, but that fog of poison being sprayed into the air doesn't recognize the sign, and it settles where ever it falls.

 

[Indigo Jill]

Closing the windows and doors works if you are home when the truck comes by, but what if you don't know it came by and your dogs are drinking the poisoned water and the poison comes in through your open windows?

As I understand it, the NO SPRAY signs are issued per property upon request. My neighbor across the street has a no spray sign, yet the truck stops spraying when he reaches the sign, but that fog of poison being sprayed into the air doesn't recognize the sign, and it settles where ever it falls.

Usually by the time they start spraying (or at least I've noticed), it's warm enough outside to have windows/doors closed because we all have our a/c's running.

I don't know how it would be effective if the No Spray sign was issued per property. Logistically, that doesn't make any sense. If it were me and I was as concerned as you are, I would canvas the neighborhood to get everyone to agree to have a No Spray sign put up at the entrance to your street like it was on mine.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Still, that poisonous spray goes into the air, and the wind does blow. Blanket spraying the County even if you get a small neighborhood to all agree to get no spray signs, does no good, because of the wind and the airborne nature of the spray. Plus, the poisonous run off goes into our water.

 

[30A Skunkape]

Do any of you know what insecticide the trucks spray?