2 — Wednesday, May 6, 1992 - North Shore News

Group
disputes
docter’s
claims
for spray
safety

Challenge him
to drink Btk

A UBC doctor who claims the
bacterial insecticide used to kill
the Asian gypsy moth is not
harmful to humans is_ being
challenged to drink Btk (Baciilus
thuringiensis kurstaki).

By Michael Becker
News Reporter

North Shore-based Citizens
Against Aerial Spraying (CAAS)
is opposed to. the acrial spraying
program to eradicate the Asian
gypsy moth. -

The second aerial application of
‘Btk in an urban area that is home
to about 600,000 people was
completed on the weekend
. throughout the North Shore and

paris of Vancouver and Burnaby.
_ Dr. Rick Mathias, a member of.
the: UBC. department: of health
care and epidemiology, helped
design a medical surveillance study
for Agriculture Canada’s gypsy
moth spraying program. Mathias
says he is not actively involved in
the study because he believes Btk
to be safe.

But said. CAAS spokesman
Dianne Wharton in a challenge to
Mathias, ‘‘If you don’t go: ahead
and dine on a dish of Foray 48B,
infront of a live television au-
dience, you'll lose your credibility.
So bon appetit!”’

But. said Mathias,. ‘‘We eat it

probably very often, and it’s safe -

* because it is a normal! soil organ-
ism. We have exposure to this far

more. often than most people.

‘think. It does not cause any
known health effects even when it
iseaten. |

“If I thought that was the only

reason the CAAS was against the _

spraying, that they genuinely
believed if you were exposed to
this it would make you sick, and
that if I did that thing (eat: some)
and it woutd change their minds,
then I'd do it.

“If they did (change their
minds) they would be greater fools
than I think they are, because
that’s not a scientifically valid way
to prove that something is safe,’’
he added. |

The Agriculture Canada study .

will attempt «to determine the
health: effects of the spray pro-
gram on a sampling of people.

The study involves more than
20 doctors in the Vancouver area
and on the North Shore. Mathias

said the dectors are watching their —

patients for symptoms that might
be associated with Btk.

“People who come in with in-
fection, they are taking cuitures
and sending some of them off
_ Specifically looking for Btk. We're
doing a selective number of pa-
tients who are coming in, even if
they don’t have signs of infection,
we are doing some swabs looking
for Btk,’’ he said.

The third aerial application of
Btk is scheduled to take place in
mid-May.

According to moth eradication
program spokesman Greg Bach,

_ ground spraying in the suburban

Lynn Valley areas will be ongoing

for the balance of this week.

IT'S A HOT TIME
N THE CITY.

FIRE UP
YOUR SATURDAY

This Saturday, May 9th, get off to a hot start.
Take the whole family out to the firefighters

parade up Lonsdale Avenue at 10:30 am.
After the parade head for Mahon Park
for a day of fun and games with your
local firefighters.

eAntique Hose Reel Races

eWater Tower and Bucket Brigade Races
Volleyball Competition

*Family Entertainment

¢Family Activities

¢Refreshment Garden

*Barbecue

Don't miss this exciting event. It's a

_ chance to have fun while-supporting your

community. Proceeds go the Vancouver
General Hospital Burn Unit, Senior's. Girl's
Basketball Tournament, North Shore
Rescue Team, Lions Gate Hospital.

1TH ANNUAL

FESTIVAL

SPARK UP |
YOUR NIGHTLIFE

After a day of hot events and family fun
the night is still young. So get on your
dancing shoes and support the

North Shore Police and Fire Games

Athletes. Come to a dance at the Mickey =.

McDougall Gym from 7pm to lam,
Saturday May 9th. It's just $10.00 .
per person and tickets are available now at».
the North Vancouver and West Vancouver:
#1 Halls. For further info call 980-5021.

reese ae °

"The 1 Ith Annual Hose » Reel Festival has been sponsored by:

The Ci

She Hoare

of North Vancouver

ee

OUl Community