North Reading Announces Mosquito Control Project

The Town of North Andover announced that mosquito spraying will begin in town on Tuesday:

The East Middlesex Mosquito Control Project is planning to use truck mounted aerosol sprayers in North Reading on Tuesday, July 12th between dusk and 11:30 PM. Areas to be sprayed are located between Haverhill St. and the Town border with Wilmington.

The Project uses a spray formulation containing the pesticide, sumithrin, to control mosquitoes. Sumithrin is a synthetic pyrethroid that is classified as a slightly toxic pesticide by the EPA. Mosquito control applications of Sumithrin do not pose a significant risk to people or their pets due to the low toxicity of sumithrin and the small amount used to control mosquitoes.

As with any pesticide, people should minimize exposure. If residents see a spray truck approaching, they are advised to go indoors for a couple of minutes while the spray dissipates. Residents are also advised to close windows facing the street. Beekeepers do not need to take any special precautions since spraying begins after dusk.