San Francisco committee hears sharp opposition to state plan for aerial spraying against light brown apple moth

SAN FRANCISCO ' The Government Audit and Oversight Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors on April 2 took testimony from public-health officials, state agriculture officials, entomologists and dozens of residents over the California Department of Food and Agriculture's plan to apply pheromone-based pesticides across parts of the Bay Area to eradicate the light brown apple moth.

Chair Supervisor Aaron Peskin opened the hearing and said the committee would examine potential human-health impacts and alternatives before the state proceeds. The Department of Public Health, the state Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) and CDFA described program tools, monitoring plans and planned disclosures; scientists and residents sharply questioned effectiveness and safety.

Why it matters: CDFA and federal partners say the moth threatens agriculture and could increase pesticide use and quarantines that would harm growers. Opponents say the proposed aerial program, and the microencapsulated formulations under consideration, lack adequate human-health data for dense urban populations and may leave vulnerable groups exposed.

What officials said: Dr. Rajeev Bhatia, director of environmental…