Yet in Croatia, every summer highly poisonous insecticides are sprayed on a massive scale in 'fogging' actions around the country, from road vehicles and aeroplanes, with scant regard to people's safety. This is done as a 'health measure' aimed at preventing diseases spread by certain mosquitoes, in accordance with the Health Ministry's Law on Protecting the Population from Infectious Diseases (Zakon o zaštiti pučantsva od zaraznih bolesti).
How dangerous are the poisons used? Answer: very. Most of the insecticides carry high risks for human health. Some can harm animals. All are harmful to aquatic life. Of course, all insecticides are dangerous for pollinators, including bees and other invaluable insects.
Check out the possible adverse effects of pesticides used for the Insect Suppression Programme:
AMPLAT, active ingredients: Cypermethrin and Tetramethrin, with Piperonyl Butoxide.
Amplat Safety Data Sheet 07/01/2020, warnings: in humans, suspected carcinogen; can cause organ damage; harmful if inhaled; harmful if swallowed; in the environment: highly poisonous to marine life, with long-lasting effects.
Cypermethrin possible adverse effects: in humans, classified as a possible carcinogen; can be fatal; can cause organ damage, skin numbness or burning, respiratory irritation, loss of bladder control, vomiting, loss of co-ordination, coma, seizures; probable reproduction/developmental toxin; in animals: very toxic to cats; in the environment: highly damaging to bees, earthworms, aquatic insects and fish; very toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects; toxic to a lesser degree to birds. Note: Cypermethrin was approved for use in the EU (01/02/2022 - 31/01/2029) on condition that it is not used when plants of any kind are in flower because of its high toxicity for bees (legislation 24/11/2021).
Tetramethrin possible adverse effects: in humans, potential human carcinogen; can cause dizziness, breathing difficulties, coughing, eye irritation, gastrointestinal upset, blisters and skin rashes; in the environment, extremely toxic to bees and aquatic organisms, including fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Piperonyl Butoxide possible adverse effects: in humans, may cause birth defects, including holoprosencephaly (HPE); may delay mental development in infants; animal studies show possible damage, including tumours, in mice and rats; in the environment, very toxic to aquatic life, with long-lasting effects.
- Amplat used in the Općina Crnac, June 2023.
CIPEX 10E - active ingredient: Cypermethrin (see above)
- Cipex 10E used on Hvar around Jelsa, Stari Grad and Hvar Town (2017, 2018, 2019, 2021) Note: Cipex 10E no longer approved by the Ministry of Health in the 2022 and 2024 listings.
CYMINA ULTRA - active ingredients: Cypermethrin and Tetramethrin (see above)
Cymina Ultra Safety Data Sheet 2020: in humans, can be fatal if inhaled and swallowed; suspected carcinogen; can cause organ damage; causes serious eye damage; can cause drowsiness or dizziness; in the environment, very toxic to aquatic life, with long-lasting effects.
- Cymina Ultra used on Brač around Supetar 26/08/2024; in the Općina Slavonski Šamac for hot and cold fogging actions, July 2024
CYPERBASE - active ingredients: Cypermethrin and Tetramethrin, with Piperonyl Butoxide (see above)
- Cyperbase used around the Općina Lipovljani, June 2024; Općina Sibinj, July 2024, Općina Slavonski Šamac for hot and cold fogging actions, July 2024
CYTROL 10/4 ULV - active ingredient: Cypermethrin with Piperonyl Butoxide (see above)
Cytrol 10/4 ULV Safety Data Sheet 09/10/2019: in humans, can be fatal if inhaled and swallowed; can cause drowsiness or dizziness; in the environment, very toxic to aquatic life, with long-lasting effects.
- Cytrol 10/4 ULV used in Grad Valpova, June 2024, Ivanić Grad June, 2024, Općina Crnac, June 2023.
NEOPITROID ALFA - active ingredient: Alpha-Cypermethrin (Alphamethrin)
Alpha-Cypermethrin possible adverse effects: in humans, possible carcinogen; can cause organ damage, respiratory irritation, irreversible eye damage; in the environment, highly toxic to fish, most aquatic organisms and honeybees; extremely toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects; toxic to earthworms; serious water pollutant.
- Neopitroid Alfa used on Hvar, used around Jelsa, June 2022, 2021. Note: Neopitroid Alfa not approved on the Ministry of Health listings, 2022, 2024.
NEOPITROID PREMIUM - active ingredients d-Trans Allethrin (Esbiothrin) and Permethrin with Piperonyl Butoxide (see above).
Neopitroid Premium Safety Data Sheet 2017: in humans, can be fatal if inhaled and swallowed; harmful if inhaled or swallowed; skin irritant; skin allergen; causes severe eye problems; in the environment, extremely toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects.
d-Trans Allethrin (Esbiothrin) possible adverse effects: in humans, harmful if swallowed or inhaled; in the environment, very toxic to aquatic life, with long-lasting effects; toxic to honey-bees and earthworms; moderately toxic to birds.
Permethrin possible adverse effects: in humans, classified as a potential carcinogen; linked to Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma; can cause neurological damage, also problems in the immune and endocrine systems; in animals, poisonous to cats, also other animals; in the environment, highly toxic to bees, sea organisms, fish.
- Neopitroid Premium used around Jelsa, June 2023; by air over the green belt around Lovas, Opatovac, Mikluševci, Tompojevci, Bokšić, Čakovci, June 2021; Velika Gorica, Velika Mlaka and Gradići, June 2021; by air over Općina Bilja, the periphery of Kopački rit and Osijek June 2019; on Hvar, Općina Sućuraj 2018; by air over Općina Gunja, Vrbanja, Drenovci, June 2014.
Note: 2024, d-Trans Allethrin not approved at EU level, Neopitroid Premium not approved on the Ministry of Health listing.
NEOPITROID PREMIUM PLUS - active ingredients Permethrin (see above) and Prallethrin with Piperonyl Butoxide (see above)
Neopitroid Premium Plus Safety Data Sheet 07/03/2022: in humans, can be fatal if swallowed, inhaled; harmful if swallowed; poisonous if inhaled; can cause allergic reactions in skin; causes severe eye injury or irritation; in the environment, very toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects.
Prallethrin possible adverse effects: in humans, highly damaging to human health, can be fatal; damaging to the environment.
- Neopitroid Premium Plus used on Hvar around Jelsa, August 2023; Sveta Nedjelja, June 2024; by air over Općina Šodolovci, June 2023; Općina Crnac June 2023.
PERMEX 22E - active ingredients Pemethrin and Tetramethrin ((see above)
Permex 22E Safety Data Sheet 2017: in humans, harmful by inhalation and if swallowed; irritating to respiratory system and skin; risk of serious damage to eyes; may cause sensitisation by skin contact; vapours may cause drowsiness and dizziness; in the environment, very toxic to aquatic organisms, may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment.
- Permex 22E used on Hvar around Jelsa, Stari Grad and Hvar Town, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
Our rights are being denied
The Insect Suppression Programme in its current form contravenes several of our human rights:
1. The right to know. "EU citizens should have access to information about chemicals to which they may be exposed, in order to allow them to make informed decisions about their use of chemicals." (Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 Introduction. clause 117)
2. The Precautionary Principle. "The precautionary principle is an approach to risk management, where, if it is possible that a given policy or action might cause harm to the public or the environment and if there is still no scientific agreement on the issue, the policy or action in question should not be carried out."
3. The right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, according to the Resolution of the United Nations Human Rights Council, 2021.
Reactions to an unacceptably risky 'health programme'?
Spraying dangerous poisons around the country and over the population is a strange way to promote public health, is it not? In the main, people, especially visitors, are unaware of the summertime spraying with its health risks and collateral damage. Official warnings are totally inadequate, the possible adverse effects of the poisons are not publicized. Some people are under the illusion that the fogging actions are a necessary measure for controlling mosquitoes alone and carry no risks for humans and the environment. The Insect Suppression Programme is inappropriate, ineffective and harmful. Increasingly, people are becoming aware of this, especially those who can see the reduction of biodiversity in their environment, beekeepers who have lost their bees, and asthmatics who have been dowsed directly with poison. But what can one do to stop it?
Who is responsible?
Ultimate responsibility for the Programme lies with the Ministry of Health. Responsibility for its implementation is delegated to the Croatian Public Health Institute, and passed on in turn to the Regional Public Health Institutes, local authorities and finally to registered commercial companies. So far, over many years, the responsible authorities have refused to respond to warnings that the Insect Suppression Programme in its present form needs to be stopped.
Conclusion: There is no doubt that the current practices of insect suppression with poisons should be halted as a matter of urgency! We call on all the responsible parties to review the Programme and to create acceptable measures for protecting public health.
Vivian Grisogono MA(Oxon)
President, Eco Hvar, September 2024
For more detailed information, see our website: www.eco-hvar.com:
Especially the following articles:
Poisoning Paradise - A Wake-Up Call
About the Insect Suppression Programme
Insecticide, raticide, pesticide: unwinnable wars
Pesticides and their adverse effects
