(Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Illnesses reported by Monterey Peninsula residents after September’s spraying to combat the light brown apple moth likely weren’t caused by CheckMate products, according to a study released Friday.
Findings released Friday by the Department of Pesticide Regulation suggest that exposure to a high dose of airborne CheckMate microcapsule particles could cause eye, skin or respiratory irritation. But the report said that the application of the product over Monterey County was extremely low, and it is unlikely the low levels could result in health problems.
The application of pheromones that took place was done at rates that fell below the proposed rate of 20 grams of active ingredient per acre, the report states.