Aerial Spray of Mosquito Adulticides in a Salt Marsh Environment

Abstract

Aerial applications of organophosphorous pesticides are widely used to control adult mosquito populations in the State of Florida. Because the pesticide may drift into estuarine water and affect non-target organisms, a field study was conducted to determine fenthion, malathion, and naled concentrations and disappearance rates in a salt marsh water body. Concentration normally increased and peaked at .75, .95 and 1.40 hrs after an aerial spray for fenthion, naled and malathion, respectively. The concentration then gradually decreased and after 48 hours, only a trace (≤ 0.01 μg/ℓ) was detected.