Beverly Hills : Resolution on Malathion
With all five members indicating support, the City Council has instructed its legal staff to draw up a resolution calling for a halt to all malathion spraying until authorities can answer questions concerning possible health risks.
“Agricultural interests are important, but cannot supersede the interests of human health,” said Councilwoman Vicki Reynolds.
Councilman Robert Tanenbaum agreed. “There are too many unknown potential health hazards,” he said.
Malathion, an insecticide, is being sprayed in parts of Los Angeles County by the state Food and Agriculture Department in an effort to eradicate an infestation of Mediterranean fruit flies. So far, Beverly Hills has been outside the spraying zone, although some parts of the city were sprayed during a 1984 infestation.
Once the resolution is passed, it will be sent to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the California Legislature.
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