ridgeway

Hi all

We have an apartment in Murcia on a golfing complex which the gardeners constantly spray the gardens to stop the mozzies spreading.

Does anyone know what chemicals they are spraying and are they safe to owners as they really do have a lot of protective clothing on when spraying.

In addition, the gardeners compound is next to our apartment and I am concerned on what chemicals are being kept there and the safeguards for our health

Any help appreciated

Thanks

Sammy

bxpuser24710519

I think DDT has been banned in most developed countries now but that does it mean some may still have and use it. I would think they are completely covered due to their close proximity to it, possible spills. Some mosquito sprays have Permethrin in them I believe which is used in forestry and agriculture for insect control and in a weaker form in head lie preparations. You could try asking your local Ayuntamiento what they use ?

Retired in Euskadi

Unless you go & ask to see the product label, it's difficult to guess.

However, it could possibly be something based on 'cypermethrin', which you could google.
In farming cypermethrins are mainly used because of their low toxicity to birds & mammals, but they are very toxic to fish & other aquatics.
I just hope the spray being used isn't one based on OP chemicals (organophosphates) as they are very effective insect killers, cheap & also dangerous to man over a long term (eg certain sheep dips).
Try going to a local agric merchant to look at the types of insecticide sprays there are.

Hope that helps.

Fred James

Permethrin and Cipermethrin are very common pyrethroid insecticides used against flying insects.

You will find them in most household fly sprays so they can't be that toxic to humans.

They will be wearing protective clothing because the health and safety rules say they must do so.

Most of the really dangerous chemicals like DDT have been banned. Usually the more recent bans are because of the effect on other wildlife not because of their effect on humans.

Dick Dasterdly

Surely there must be some standing or stagnant water in the area where the mozzies breed for there to be such a major problem, if not in the gardens, around the golf course maybe ?

Eliminate or deal with that and they should not be too much of a problem.

Are you sure it's only mozzies that they are spraying ?

Retired in Euskadi

I'd agree; get rid of where they breed.
You can't really use these sprays as a preventative measure; they kill what they come into contact with, otherwise you're wasting your money.

ridgeway

This is what they spray:

Fred James

No way are they spraying for mossies there!

Looks more like weedkiller.

Rosemary

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ridgeway

Another couple of pics:

ridgeway

Last two:

Does seem as if everyone is booted and suited for the job all the time. Still dont know what chemicals they are spraying but I do close all the doors and windows when they do cause of the smell

VFR

I agree.

bxpuser24710519

Cockroaches ? they were suited up for spraying them down at the marina we used. Hmm could be weed killer.

dypcdiver

Err I'm a bit embarrassed to ask this, but why don't you ask them what they are using?

ridgeway

I am no gardening expert and all I am told is that it is fumigation. Someone told be it could be for leatherjackets in the grass as per the UK

I had hoped that someone somewhere would know something that would put my mind at rest as I dont know if the chemicals could cause me a health issue. Trying to explain to a non english gardener who is spraying what he is doing is impossible