Comments on: Stop the poisonous spraying of Accabonac and Napeague Harbors

By: D. Posnett MD

D. Posnett MD — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 12:52:18 +0000

I think this is fear mongering.
A scientific review of the data does not support the above statements in regard to lobsters:

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
Volume 139, May 2017, Pages 335–343
Environmental safety review of methoprene and bacterially-derived pesticides commonly used for sustained mosquito control
By Sharon P. Lawler

Excerpt from this scholarly review:

Some smaller crustaceans, including freshwater zooplankton and
larvae of marine crustaceans, showed toxic effects of methoprene in
laboratory or mesocosm studies at relatively high levels (50 μg/kg) but
sometimes also at the lower levels expected in mosquito control (Chu
et al., 1997; Pauley et al., 2015). However, studies of field applications
have not detected effects on zooplankton abundances (e.g., Norland and
Mulla, 1975, Niemi et al., 1997, Davis and Peterson, 2008).
Walker and colleagues showed negative effects on lobster larvae of
2–50 μg/kg methoprene, which is in the range used in mosquito
control, and also demonstrated that methoprene may become concentrated
in some lobster tissues with chronic exposure (Walker et al.,
2005). Mysid shrimp embryos showed small differences in hatching rate
and development time at 1 μg/kg and larger changes at 100 μg/kg, and
there were non-significant trends toward decreased survival of larvae
(Ghekiere et al., 2007).
These occasional findings of methoprene toxicity to marine crustaceans
have caused concern. Local effects are possible if methoprene is
applied to marsh habitat where mysids occur, or to marshes that are very
close to oceanic habitats where lobsters occur. However, environmental
modeling and field data suggest that widespread effects are highly
unlikely. Any runoff from applications to coastal marshes would encounter
vast dilution from the ocean (Miller et al., 2005). Zulkosky et al. (2005)
provided evidence consistent with this model in that methoprene was not
detectable in Long Island Sound waters in 2003, despite being used in
many adjacent marshes and other waters on the island.

By: D. Posnett MD

D. Posnett MD — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 12:52:18 +0000

There is a reason that we spray against insects! They transmit diseases to humans and these can be deadly: Eastern Equine Encephalitis; West Nile Virus; Malaria, Filariasis; and emerging mosquito-borne diseases. http://www.suffolkcountyny.gov/Portals/30/reports/2015/do2rpt_123115_TickVectorBorneDiseasesFinalReport.pdf

As with everything in life, one needs to weigh the pros and cons very carefully. I am not convinced that methoprene is the poison it is hyped up to be.

By: Legislator Bridget Fleming

Legislator Bridget Fleming — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 12:52:18 +0000

Thank you for your advocacy! I too am deeply concerned about adverse efforts of methoprene. I do need to point out it is absolutely incorrect that “County officials have no intention of heeding local appeals”. As your County Legislator, I asked Vector control to sit down with the East Hampton Trustees earlier this year and here are a number of good steps that came out of the meeting:

I pushed for the Vector Control 2017 Annual Plan of Work to be amended to include language that Vector Control work together with the Trustees to undertake educational efforts, and wetlands management measures, with a goal of reducing or eliminating the use of methoprene.

I’ve contacted the County Wetlands Stewardship Committee to ask that the Trustees be represented on the Committee. I expect the Committee to meet this summer and will consider that concern.

The new director of Vector Control has also invited the trustees to suggest a site to conduct a pilot program that would include the elimination of methoprene. I am support that effort.
We’ve made small but real progress toward the reduction and elimination of methoprene spraying in the district, and I’m grateful to advocates who have worked so hard on the goal. I look forward to continuing to work with you to restore our natural ecosystems and eliminate toxic spraying.