Norwalk : Halt to Medfly Spraying Urged; Health Risks Cited

The Norwalk City Council unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday calling for a stop to aerial spraying of malathion against the Mediterranean fruit fly until more studies on the health effects of the pesticide can be performed.

The resolution also calls on the Legislature to give cities the right to regulate pesticide spraying within their boundaries. State law currently preempts local authority.

A county toxicologist assured the City Council that the amount of malathion being sprayed on Los Angeles-area neighborhoods presents no health threat. But local residents said that their families and neighbors experienced rashes, headaches and other problems after the periodic spayings.

The council meeting began about two hours earlier than usual to enable the council members and residents to return to their homes before helicopters began spraying Norwalk and other Southeast-area communities Tuesday night.