# 1 

# Resmethrin & PBO Residues Detected Following ULV Applications

Roy W. Meyer New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Pesticide Control Program Roy.meyer@dep.state.nj.us 

# Scourge insecticide EPA Registration No. 432-716 (Used throughout 2003-2005) • Paramus Catholic High

School - Paramus • Approximately 1 3/4

acres treated • Rate 4 oz/min x 2 1/2

minutes – 10 ounces • 3 of 4 sites in Saddle River – rate 20 ft/min • Bergen County Utility Authority - Little Ferry • Approximately 7 acres

treated • Rate 4 oz/min x 3

minutes – 12 ounces • 2 sites within spray area • 1 site across pond – ~ 1550 ft distant from

treatment area

Paramus Catholic High School - Saddle River - Site 1

Site 1 

### A

C B

D Spray Route/River Flow 

### Table 1. 2003 Mosquito Project Sampling Results

Site 1 - Paramus Catholic High School - Saddle River Time after Application 0 Minutes 15 Minutes 30 Minutes 45 Minutes Point A Pesticides: Resmethrin ND ND ND ND PBO ND ND ND ND

Point B Pesticides: Resmethrin ND ND ND ND PBO ND 0.24 ug/l 0.36 ug/l Identified

Point C Pesticides: Resmethrin ND ND ND ND PBO ND 0.39 ug/l 0.27 ug/l 0.25 ug/l

Point D Pesticides: Resmethrin ND ND ND ND PBO ND ND ND ND
Background Resmethrin ND PBO 0.34 ug/l

# 2 Little Ferry - Bergen County Utility Authority - Site 2

Site 2 

### A

B

C Spray Route 

### Site 2 - Little Ferry - Lake near Treatment Plant Time after Application 0 Minutes 30 Minutes 60 Minutes 90 Minutes Point A Pesticides: Resmethrin 

### ND ND ND ND PBO 

### ND ND ND ND

Point B Pesticides: Resmethrin 

### ND ND 0.47 ug/l 0.45 ug/l PBO 

### ND 0.50 ug/l 0.38 ug/l 0.34 ug/l

Point C Pesticides: Resmethrin 

### ND 0.56 ug/l 0.41 ug/l 0.46 ug/l PBO 

### ND 0.36 ug/l ND 0.35 ug/l
Background Resmethrin 

### ND PBO 

### ND

0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6

ug/l

Levels Identified 30 Minutes Post-Application Comparison of Detected Residue Levels

Resmethrin PBO

Resmethrin 0.56 0.021 0.005 0.043 PBO 0.315 0.43 0.343 0.005 0.28 Saddle River BCUA Spectacle Pond (LI) Lake Ronkonkoma (LI) Westchester Maximum Predicted 

### 2004 - Paramus Catholic High School - Saddle River

# 3 2004 Mosquito Project Sampling Results Application on October 5, 2004 Time measured in hours after application Site 1 - Saddle River Time 0 Time 1 Time 2 Time 3 Time 24 Time 48 Point A1 Pesticides: Resmethrin ND ND ND ND ND ^ PBO ND ND ND ND ND ^

Point A2 Pesticides: Resmethrin ND ND ND ND ND ND PBO ND 0.006 u g /cm 2 ND ND ND ND

Point A3 Pesticides: Resmethrin ND ND ND ND ND ND PBO ND 0.003 u g /cm 2 ND ND ND ND

Point B1 Pesticides: Resmethrin ND ND ND ND ND ^ PBO ND ND ND ND ND ^

Point B2 Resmethrin ND ND ND ND ND ND PBO ND 0.12 u g /cm 2 ND ND 0.0011 u g /cm 2 ND

Point B3 Pesticides: Resmethrin ND ND ND ND ND ND PBO ND 0.003 ug/cm 2 ND ND ND ND

Point C Pesticides: Resmethrin * ND ND ND ^ ^ PBO * 0.0022 u g /cm 2 ND ND ^ ^ * A sample was not collected at this time interval. ^ Filter paper was placed at the sampling location for this time interval, but had been removed when we returned to c o 

# Paramus Catholic High School August 2005

Table 1. August 17, 2005 Sampling Results Moving Application Source
Paramus Catholic High School - Paramus Residues in ng/cm 2 Application Path 0' 150' 300'

Distance from Application Pathway

20' Resmethrin 2 ND ND PBO 13 110 7

Fluorescence No No No

100'

Resmethrin ND ND ND PBO 28 14 6

Fluorescence No No No

Samples collected 15 minutes after application 

# Paramus Catholic High School August 2005

# 4 Table 2. August 17, 2005 Sampling Results Stationary Application Source
Parmaus Catholic High School - Parmaus Residues in ng/cm 2 

### Distance Sample ID Resmethrin PBO

4' S1 4 90

8' S2 4 120

12' S3 3 60

16' S4 3 140

16' S6 ND 13

16' S10 2 120

20' S5 11 670

25' S7 3 78

25' S8 5 480

25' S9 7 550 

# Campgaw Mountain Reservation September 2005

Table 3. September 22, 2005 Sampling Results

Campgaw Mountain Reservation Parking Lot - Mahwah Residues in ng/cm2 Distance From Application 150' 200-250' 300-375' 400-575' Filter Paper - Blue Pesticides: Resmethrin < 0.68 ND ND -- PBO 1.5 ND ND --
Filter Paper - Yellow Pesticides: Resmethrin -- 0.91 ND -- PBO -- < 0.77 < 0.77 --
Filter Paper - Orange Pesticides: Resmethrin < 0.68 -- -- < 0.68 PBO 16 -- -- < 0.77

Aluminum Sheet - Swabs Pesticides: Resmethrin ND ND ND ND PBO ND ND ND ND 

# Campgaw Mountain Reservation October 2005

# 5 Table 4. October 19, 2005 Sampling Results

Campgaw Mountain Reservation Parking Lot - Mahwah Residues in ng/cm 2 Distance From Application 25' 50' 100' 175' 250' Filter Paper - Blue Pesticides: Resmethrin ND ND ND ND ND PBO 0.45 0.48 0.42 2.6 1.6
Filter Paper - Yellow Pesticides: Resmethrin ND ND ND ND ND PBO 9.8 12 2.3 0.51 1.1 Van Swabs Resmethrin - ND, PBO - ND
Filter Paper - Orange Pesticides: Resmethrin ND ND ND ND ND PBO 5.5 1.4 1.5 1.7 1.2

Mean Values Pesticides: Resmethrin ND ND ND ND ND PBO 5.25 4.63 1.41 1.60 1.3 Std Dev 4.680 6.402 0.943 1.048 0.265 

# Issues related to lack of consistent Resmethrin detections Possible explanations: • Sample preparation and analytical

error(s) – Analytical methods & previous laboratory

experience demonstrat es ability to detect analytes – PBO detected but not Resmethrin – QA/QC Spike recoveries due to material in

vial, not on filter paper Controlled Field Tests Confirm

Methodology



# Issues related to lack of consistent Resmethrin detections • Sampling error(s) – Requires all or most samplers to err in a

consistent fashion - Examined & Eliminated 

# • Matrix interference – Binding with materials in filter paper – Similar problems with water samples -

Laboratory And Field Tests Eliminate Interference As A Factor



# • Fluorescent Tracer

– Inconsistent Results

– Utility As An “Onsite” Tool Appears Limited 

# Issues related to lack of consistent Resmethrin detections
• Residue concentration – Only detections of resmethrin occurred in BCUA pond

Deposition Experiments On Aluminum Foil Or Vehicle Unproductive – Residue concentration assumptions based on scientific

literature examining malathion Difference In A.I. Significant – ULV method of application Conditions Have

Significant Influence - D eposition Rates Vary Significantly – Levels of resmethrin residues below detection levels of

analytical instruments MUCH GREATER VARIATION THAN INITIALLY EXPECTED!

# 6 • 2007 Location: • Hamilton Police Department Firing Range - Electronics Road site • Adjacent to areas of

high mosquito populations • Routinely treated by

County of Mercer, Dept. Transportation & Infrastructure, Mosquito Control Division 

# Hamilton Township Firing Range Electronics Road August 16, 2007

• Scourge insecticide – EPA Reg. No. 432-716 

# • Active Ingredients – Resmethrin - 4.14% – Piperonyl Butoxide – 12.42% 

# • Rate 6 oz/min x 3 minutes – 18 ounces applied 

# • Temperature – 79 o 

# F • Relative Humidity – 72%

N = 8 2.8 – 49.0 23.8 PBO ND – 0.62 0.135 Resmethrin Pesticides: Hanging Filter Paper N = 13 11.0 – 45.0 29.308 PBO ND – 4.0 0.268 Resmethrin Pesticides: Ground Filter Paper Range Mean Residues in ng/cm 2 

# Electronics Road, Hamilton Table 1. August 16, 2007 Sampling Results 

# Hamilton Township Firing Range Electronics Road October 4, 2007

• Scourge insecticide – EPA Reg. No. 432-716 

# • Active Ingredients – Resmethrin - 4.14% – Piperonyl Butoxide – 12.42% 

# • Rate 6 oz/min x 2 minutes – 12 ounces applied 

# • Temperature – 75 o 

# F • Relative Humidity – 84%

# 7 N = 8 1.4 – 7.9 3.0 PBO ND – 0.62 0.346 Resmethrin Pesticides: Hanging Filter Paper N = 4 16.0 – 33.0 24.25 PBO 0.66 – 2.5 1.358 Resmethrin Pesticides: Ground Filter Paper Range Mean Residues in ng/cm 2 

# Electronics Road, Hamilton Table 2. October 4, 2007 Sampling Results 

# Proposed Research • Continued examination of ground

applications of adulticides containing Resmethrin – Distance – Time – Deposition 

# • Research the role(s) played by climate

conditions • Examination of fate & transport

mechanisms • Detections compared to Efficacy