LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A harmful pesticide that’s on a federal restricted list has been located in Lake County, according to Lake County health officials.
On Sept. 21, during searches conducted by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office of cannabis grow sites on private property, samples of an unknown substance were obtained that were confirmed on Wednesday as US EPA severely restricted pesticides, according to the Lake County Health Services Department.
There are two sites with confirmed presence of the pesticide at very high concentrations, and three sites with specimens sent to the laboratory with results currently pending.
The known sites are in the Lower Lake area – one is on Rocky Creek Road off of Morgan Valley; the other is on Spruce Grove Road south of Lower Lake. Warning signs to avoid the areas will be posted at the entrances to the affected properties.
The pesticide confirmed is Carbofuran, which is an organophospahate, a harmful pesticide to the public and the environment.
A bird on one site was confirmed dead due to organophosphate poisoning. These chemicals can cause reproductive harm, acute poisoning, and have possible long-term effects.
Seek medical treatment if you believe you have been in contact with these chemicals or are experiencing the following symptoms: blurred vision, pinpoint pupils, tearing, excessive respiratory secretions; salivation; sweating; abdominal cramps, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea; lightheadedness; chest tightness, epigastric pain, labored breathing; cyanosis; muscle twitching; incoordination; convulsions; unconsciousness; respiratory failure; skin irritation.
The Lake County Health Services Department We will continue to notify the public until the spill has been remediated.
If you have a shallow well in the area, consider filtering your water with a granular activated carbon filter and non-ionic polymeric resin filters. Individuals can Google NSF 42, 53, and 401 point-of-use or point –of-entry filters.
For more information, contact the Lake County Health Services Department at 707-263-1090. After hours, please dial 9 to be connected.
US EPA severely restricted pesticide found on private property in Lake County
- Lake County News reports
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