MONTEREY, Calif. (KCBS) -- California environmental health experts say hundreds of illnesses reported by Central Coast residents cannot be linked to the aerial pesticide sprays that were used last fall to fight an invasive moth.
State and federal officials sprayed residential areas in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties to combat the light brown apple moth. Hundreds of people complained of feeling short of breath, sharp stomach pains and other symptoms, but officials say most of the illness reports didn't contain enough information to determine what caused the symptoms.
”There are several reasons why we were unable to establish a link,” said Dr. Joan Denton from the California Office of Health Hazard Assessment. “And one is that the symptoms came to us from a variety of sources.”
But Monterey resident Karen Stafford says the symptoms are very real, and only developed after the spraying.
”I wish I could move,” said Stafford. “When you start realizing that somebody has the power to override all logic it’s very frightening.”
(MGO)
KCBS' Mark Seelig reports
