Protecting The Air And Planet From Chemicals

This year we have been subject to many concerns related to the use of chemicals, such as the dangers of using Round-Up and the side effects which are many such as the loss of many helpful insects, as well as, bees.
Now the biggest concern is the Zika Virus carried by mosquito's. As we arm ourselves with chemicals to ward off mosquito's we must consider the effects these chemicals can have on our own bodies over long term use, and perhaps think of ways to kill mosquito's that is more environmentally friendly, as well as, safe around pets and children.
Thus comes the idea of the homemade mosquito trap that anyone can make and hang or sit on your property.

 

@Sandy Wood One approach being tried is to sterilize billions of mosquito larvae, then introduce them into the general environment. As they cannot reproduce, their intermingling with the general mosquito population causes it to decrease.

Zika is now being revealed as a lesser hazard than was originally touted all over. A host of other mosquito-borne diseases are far more dangerous.

 

Are you sure about that Frank? I think that Zika is potentially a problem in like 10 or 12 states. I don't think we can afford to take any chances with it. Although, the sterilization idea sounds very good. West Nile is another scary mosquito born disease. In this area, ticks are a major problem. I had a tick bite a few weeks ago. Lyme can be a really nasty disease, so ticks being around is pretty scary too. Ticks, Bedbugs, Mosquitoes, pick your poison. They are all bad.

 

@K E Gordon "Are you sure about that Frank?"

Sure = Certain, so, no, not certain, but only sure of understanding what others write about it.

"The infection, known as Zika fever, often causes no or only mild symptoms, similar to a very mild form of dengue fever.[5] It is treated by rest."

From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zika_virus

Pregnant women are most at risk, however, due to the possibility of brain defects in their babies, if infected with Zika virus.

Frank

 

I believe the Zika virus had been over blown by the media. (Journalists have to justify their jobs like very one else.) The local media here in the Metroplex were touting what a problem the Zika virus was in Dallas. Well, when the statistics became available, only two people had contracted it. Two people out of several million? Because of the media scare tactics, I believe that the virus will only prove to be a whimper and not a loud cry.

 

@Texas Beth "Journalists have to justify their jobs like very one else"

I LOVE this! Falls in step with all my beliefs regarding touted and publicized "facts" regarding criminals' "guilt", pressure on cops as well as D.A.s to secure convictions at any and all costs, even if they KNOW the poor bastard they have charged is INNOCENT!

Improper, trumped-up (no pun), watered evidence and the like, employed by over-zealous prosecutors, is one of my all-time pet-peeves. I grew up in an America where these practices did not exist! Who-all has allowed, over all these years, the "system" to become so glaringly and obviously corrupt? Confiscation of cash during routine traffic stops? "Routine" traffic stops not routine at all, completely Unconstitutional?

WTH has happened to America? And why? Today the media tell us to honor the fallen military, then turn around and condone search and seizure without just or probable cause. It's Memorial Day. My nephew should be back home (Marine Corps. member sent overseas clandestine mission, month of May), how I hope he is OK. I sent him an email; no response (yet).
Frank

 

When we moved to a rented house that was full of ticks - fortunately we have no dogs at that time - that's when I learned the potency of malathion, an insecticide normally used in the farm. It is actually for the crop but my husband bought that as per the advice of a vet. True enough, the ticks inside and outside the house which numbered by the hundreds (no exaggeration) vanished after 3 weeks of fumigation. But the odor of that insecticide is repugnant to my olfactory nerves.

When we moved to our present house in 2001, there were also pests like ticks, big ants and termites too. Again, we used malathion for 2 weeks to eradicate the pests. Done, very good. But what about the remnants or the so called sediments? My husband said it will be dissolved... maybe but not sure. Now, with that in mind, we agreed not to use the insecticide often because it might affect the environment, particularly our dogs who use the front yard for their call of nature. In fairness to my husband, 2 hours after spraying the insecticide in the exterior of the house, he would hose it down with water until the odor is gone.

Okay, we had eradicated the insects now but what if they mutate to a stronger breed and would be immune to insecticide? Oh, that's not for me to answer.

 

@Corie Henson Corie:

FWIW:

"Malathion is of low toxicity; however, absorption or ingestion into the human body readily results in its metabolism to malaoxon, which is substantially more toxic.[17] In studies of the effects of long-term exposure to oral ingestion of malaoxon in rats, malaoxon has been shown to be 61 times more toxic than malathion.[17] It is cleared from the body quickly, in three to five days.[18] According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency there is currently no reliable information on adverse health effects of chronic exposure to malathion."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malathion#General

 

@Corie Henson, Even with the worries of Malathion, it was still better than allowing Guinea hens to roam freely though your house looking for ticks and other bugs, that would have been a real mess. lol

 

The planet will recover and save itself quite readily, when human existence on it has disappeared.

Frank