Anvil is a popular insecticide used to prevent West Nile fever, a mosquito-borne disease that infected about 10,000 people in the United States between 1999 and 2006. It is sprayed in several cities, including Chicago. The main active ingredient is sumithrin, a synthetic pyrethroid.
Sumithrin is a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide that can also be found in other pesticide treatments used to manage ticks and insects, such as fleas and ants inside and on pets.
Piperonyl butoxide does not kill insects directly, but it increases the ability of sumithrin to kill insects. A petroleum solvent is used to dissolve these active components. Petroleum solvents are chemically comparable to paint thinner or kerosene.
The majority of the Anvil used for mosquito control is made up of petroleum solvents. Anvil can be used as is or diluted with other petroleum-based products, such as mineral oil, before use.
Because pesticides are inherently harmful, no exposure is without risk. The likelihood of having adverse health consequences from any pesticide, including Anvil, is mostly determined by the amount of pesticide a person comes into contact with and the length of time that person is in contact with that pesticide.
Furthermore, a person’s age, gender, genetic makeup, lifestyle, or general health features can influence their chance of developing negative health impacts due to pesticide exposure.
Anvil is administered from the air using fixed-wing and rotary aircraft or from the ground using ultra-low volume (ULV) sprayers (truck/ATV/backpack).
Anvil’s active components degrade quickly in sunlight and do not bioaccumulate. Anvil has no reentry procedures in place.
Anvil has been tested against 30 mosquito species in 43 field trials in the United States.
History
The US Environmental Protection Agency approved sumithrin for usage in 1975, and Anvil is approved for ground and aerial application in outdoor residential and recreational areas. Clarke Mosquito Control manufactures and distributes Anvil.
During a West Nile virus outbreak in 2003, Anvil treated almost one million acres (4,000 km2) in Larimer County, Colorado. According to the Anvil Technical Bulletin, this spray reduced mosquito populations by around 80%.
Anvil was used in Massachusetts in 2006 after Governor Mitt Romney declared a state of emergency following the discovery of the virus that causes Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) in large quantities in mosquito populations, and again in 2019 via aerial spraying after multiple people tested positive for EEE.
Controversy
Because of worries about the spray’s possible health and environmental impacts and new research demonstrating the spray’s ineffectiveness, anti-spray protesters have urged more organic methods of avoiding the West Nile virus.
The active chemical harms bees and fish and is an endocrine disruptor.
Is Anvil Spraying Detrimental to My Health or the Health of My Family?
Short-term exposure to very high amounts of pyrethroid insecticides comparable to sumithrin can disrupt the neurological system, resulting in symptoms such as loss of coordination, tremors, tingling, and numbness in skin contact regions.
Short-term exposure to high amounts of petroleum solvents can cause eye, skin, nose, throat, and lung irritation. If very high doses of petroleum solvents are used, vomiting or central nervous system depression may result. No studies have been conducted to determine whether the use of Anvil to control mosquitoes has resulted in any long-term health impacts on people.
Anvil is used to control mosquitoes at very low concentrations. Most people are unlikely to suffer from unfavorable health effects due to its use, but some people may suffer from them. For these reasons, people should take precautions to limit their exposure to Anvil if it is used to control mosquitos.
Is Anvil Considered an “Endocrine Disruptor”?
Endocrine disruptors are compounds that interfere with the operation of the endocrine system. The endocrine system comprises glands that create hormones that work together to govern development, growth, reproduction, and behavior and keep organs functioning normally.
Our understanding of the link between exposure and endocrine system consequences continually evolves. Some estrogen-like compounds (DES) have been linked to long-term consequences in mice born to mothers who swallowed low doses during pregnancy. This field of study is the focus of a considerable scientific investigation.
High amounts of sumithrin acted like estrogen when applied to cells growing in plastic dishes in a laboratory (a class of naturally occurring hormones). This shows that sumithrin may interfere with the operation of the endocrine system in animals.
In another study, sumithrin did not replicate estradiol (natural estrogen) in three independent assays.
Although alterations in thyroid hormone levels were shown in rats repeatedly exposed to other pyrethroids, no particular investigations have been conducted to determine whether sumithrin or the other components of Anvil interact with endocrine system function in animals.
Are Some Persons More Likely than Others to Have Symptoms After Being Exposed to Anvil Spray?
When Anvil is sprayed for mosquito control, most people are unlikely to notice any problems. However, some people may be particularly sensitive to one or more Anvil components and may develop short-term symptoms such as eye, skin, nose, or throat irritation or breathing issues.
Children, in particular, may be at increased risk of developing negative consequences from using Anvil due to the possibility of greater exposure than adults.
Can the Spraying Impact or Endanger My Pregnancy?
As with any chemical exposures, pregnant women should avoid exposures if possible, as the fetus may be sensitive. Spraying sumithrin and piperonyl butoxide is unlikely to alter pregnancy outcomes in humans.
Although some effects were observed in laboratory animals given large amounts of sumithrin or piperonyl butoxide during pregnancy, these amounts far exceeded the amounts that individuals are likely to come into contact with from Anvil spraying.
Should I Be Concerned About Cancer?
Sumithrin did not induce cancer in rats or mice when fed in high amounts throughout their lives.
Piperonyl butoxide induces liver tumors in rats and mice when fed high quantities of piperonyl butoxide daily for a long time, according to experimental investigations. However, the quantity of piperonyl butoxide consumed by animals in these tests significantly exceeds the amount humans may be exposed to due to using Anvil to kill mosquitoes.
Although there are uncertainties, available evidence suggests that piperonyl butoxide is unlikely to cause cancer in people due to its use to control mosquitos.
Should I Be Concerned About Coming into Contact with Pesticides on Surfaces that Have Been Sprayed?
After spraying, some pesticide residues may remain on outdoor surfaces. According to limited research on other chemicals, the quantity of pesticide transferred to skin diminishes with time after spraying (and very little transfers 24 hours after spraying), is less on dry skin than wet skin; and is less from porous surfaces than non-porous ones.
When pesticides are exposed to sunlight and water, they break down faster. Although not always essential, if spraying has recently happened and surface contact is high (e.g., playing field sports), exposure can be reduced by wearing long pants and sleeves and cleaning affected skin.
Most people would not anticipate feeling any symptoms after coming into contact with outside surfaces following spraying. If you want to go the extra mile with little newborns, place them on a blanket instead of the grass if spraying has just occurred. In addition, before spraying, some small toys, such as those that newborns may put in their mouths, might be brought inside.
Statutes of limitations set the time limit when a particular claim can be brought against a defendant. It is imperative to keep these statutes in mind, especially because claims for damages must be brought within a set period.
Cases that involve defective medications or drugs may be brought as a product liability case rather than a toxic tort case. When a toxic substance affects many individuals, a plaintiff may not bring an individual claim but rather a class action lawsuit, as was previously discussed.
The factors necessary to prove in a toxic tort case are similar to those necessary in a typical negligence case.
Should I Consult an Attorney?
If you suspect you or your kid has become ill due to Anvil exposure, you should consult with a class action lawyer. An expert class action attorney can assist you in determining who is liable for your Anvil exposure and obtaining appropriate compensation for your injuries.
