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Adverse Health Consequences Following Aerial Spraying With Bacillus Thuringiensis (Var. Kursraki) (Btk) To Control The Gypsy Moth: Flaws In Government Risk Assessments And In Public Health Officials' Attitudes, Richard B. Philp

Richard B. Philp

The soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis is noteworthy for its ability to infect fatally the digestive tract of moths, butterflies and other insects, making it an attractive biological agent to control insects that can damage crops and trees. One subspecies B. thuringiensis (var. kurstaki) is used in commercial preparations such as Foray 48B that can be applied as a spray on the ground or from aircraft. The latter approach is especially appealing as large areas can be sprayed at relatively low cost. The use of such spraying in populated, urban areas often results in reports of illnesses such as nausea, vomiting, …