The fight against mosquitoes and the potentially harmful pesticide naled is heading to a Miami-Dade federal court.
Dr. Michael Hall has filed an emergency request to stop Miami-Dade County from conducting aerial spraying in its seasonal battle against native marsh mosquitoes. The suit also claims the county isn't giving residents enough notice about another round of spraying.
Monday, the county underwent its second aerial spraying this season, dosing the coast from the Rickenbacker Causeway south to Florida City, and inland around Kendall and Homestead.
Hall says naled poses a health risk to residents. The complaint also says the county failed to follow Environmental Protection Agency guidelines and asks the court to suspend the pesticide’s use until it can hear evidence about its safety.
Naled has been used for decades to fight marsh mosquitoes, but drew heightened attention last year when officials expanded its use in residential neighborhoods to battle the Zika virus.
While marsh mosquitoes bite and can be a nuisance, they do not carry viruses. Instead, Zika is linked to the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
Environmentalists have long complained that naled's damage to wildlife (it can harm birds, fish, butterflies, bees and other pollinators) outweighs the relief provided for a relatively harmless native pest.
The county repeatedly points to research showing naled is safe.