How the U.S. Military’s Pesticide Operations Could Be Affecting You.

Imagine drifting off to sleep under a sky that, while serene, may also be silently showering you with harmful chemicals. This isn’t a scene from a dystopian thriller but a troubling reality uncovered by the Informed Consent Action Network (ICAN). Recently, ICAN's legal team managed to peel back the curtain on a concerning practice: the U.S. military’s routine spraying of toxic pesticides over residential areas. This revelation, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, paints a picture of government-sanctioned chemical dispersal that could be affecting us all.

The documents obtained by ICAN show that the Department of Defense (DOD) operates a specialized unit tasked with aerial pesticide spraying. This unit doesn’t just target remote, uninhabited landscapes; it frequently sprays large swathes of land, including residential areas, with potentially hazardous chemicals. The spraying is often conducted at night when insects are most active, and residents may remain blissfully unaware of the toxic rain falling on their homes.

The unit employs aircraft modified with Modular Aerial Spray Systems (MASS) capable of dispersing up to 2,000 gallons of pesticides, herbicides, or dispersants in one flight. These chemicals are released in 30-micron droplets from spray bars under each wing. The scope of these operations is significant, involving as many as 25 missions annually across 12 military installations in nine states. Some of the sprayed areas include densely populated regions in Texas, Louisiana, Virginia, and North Dakota, to name a few.

The records reveal that the military’s pesticide of choice includes more than 20 different chemicals, prominently featuring Naled, a highly toxic organophosphate pesticide. Naled is infamous for its potency in killing insects by disrupting their central nervous systems. However, its effects are not limited to insects. In humans, exposure to Naled can result in symptoms such as headaches, muscle twitching, nausea, vomiting, respiratory issues, and seizures, particularly in children. The severity of these symptoms underscores the potential risks of exposure.

Moreover, the military’s records include disturbing evidence of the pesticide’s reach beyond its intended targets. For instance, the pesticides have even been found to kill mosquitoes inside buildings, highlighting how the chemicals are not contained to their intended environments. Additionally, one flight path shows that the planes intentionally avoided spraying areas with bald eagle nests, suggesting that even the military recognizes the potential danger these chemicals pose to wildlife. If these pesticides are deemed too dangerous for baby eagles, the question arises: How are they affecting humans?

This revelation adds another layer of concern to the already troubling issue of pesticide exposure. In June 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) acknowledged that Naled could be a significant exposure pathway through food, drinking water, and even clothing. The fact that the military’s spraying practices include such a hazardous chemical only amplifies these concerns.

As ICAN’s legal team continues to delve into this issue, they have requested scientific proof from the EPA that the pesticides being used do not pose a threat to public health or the environment. Until these questions are answered, the revelation of the military’s pesticide spraying practice raises serious concerns about the safety of our skies and our health.

Information is sourced from the official ICAN website.

Here is the document obtained in the FOIA request. It's from The Department of the Air Force Headquarters 910th Airlift Wing. It's a PDF and word to the wise it's a very lengthy read.