Human Health Considerations in the Use of Btk-Based Insecticide Foray 48B for Asian Gypsy Moth in Hamilton

This document compiles and summarises available information on the human health issues related to the use of Btk-based sprays for aerial application in moth control operations. The information comes from a number of sources, including:

• health risk assessments (HRAs) prepared for the two aerial spray programmes in Auckland
• HRAs prepared for moth control programmes in North America and Europe
• research information on the biology, ecology and human health effects of the Bacillus thuringiensis organism
• toxicological information on spray ingredients
• health surveillance and research information from New Zealand and elsewhere, including preliminary analysis of records from the Painted Apple Moth Health Service in Auckland
• reports and community feedback related to the PAM eradication programme.

As with the three HRAs carried out for the Auckland spray programmes, ARPHS has had access to the ingredient list for Foray 48B, but not to information held by ERMA and ACVM supplied by the company as part of product registration.

We have prepared some preliminary projections of health service use and health issues that might be expected in Hamilton. However, caution is needed in interpretation because of the different population and community characteristics and spray programme differences.