NJ fines TVF Pest Control of Newark over $860,000 for improper bedbug spraying

TVF Pest Control of Newark has been stung with an $860,000 penalty for misapplication of hazardous pesticides in residences to control bedbugs, state Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin announced Monday.

The DEP is also seeking permanent revocation of TVF's pesticide business license and revocation of individual applicator licenses for the company's pesticide applicator Javier Godoy and company owner Josimar Ferreira.

The department also has charged TVF $10,625 for the cost of DEP chemical sampling, and levied a $10,000 penalty against TVF corporate officer Marta Braga for an applicator licensing violation.

"This is an issue of public health and welfare,'' Martin said.”Bedbug infestation is a growing problem in New Jersey and across the nation. The DEP is sending a strong and clear message in this case that when companies put residents at risk by intentionally misusing pesticides in dealing with bedbugs they will be dealt with severely.''

TVF and its pesticide applicators may continue to operate pending the outcome of an administrative hearing, provided a request for a hearing is filed with DEP within 35 days.

An investigation by the DEP in 2010 revealed that TVF Pest Control used chemicals not appropriate for indoor use in at least 50 houses and apartments, mainly in Essex, Hudson and Union counties, between January and June, in spraying for bedbugs.

The investigation in June after the DEP was alerted by Massachusetts officials that the company was the subject of a federal Environmental Protection Agency probe in the Bay State regarding indoor use of pesticides to combat bedbugs.

At that point it was learned that residences particularly in Newark, and also Elizabeth, Jersey City, Harrison, Kearny, Perth Amboy and Linden, South River and Woodbridge were improperly treated by TVF.

The investigation found that Malathion and Carbaryl were sprayed inside houses and apartments. In addition, TVF falsified documents to omit a record of their use of these pesticides for bedbug control.

"We want pest control companies and individuals to address the bedbug problem in a safe, responsible manner,'' Martin said. "They should use only registered pesticides and employing smart, approved housekeeping practices and non-pesticide techniques to control the troubling insects.''

Neither Malathion nor Carbaryl are approved for indoor use. Symptoms of exposure to the pesticides, which are readily absorbed through the skin, can include headaches, nausea and dizziness, muscle twitching and vomiting.

New Jerseyans have the right to obtain notification information from companies to identify chemicals used to control pests in their residences, DEP Assistant Commissioner Wolf Skacel said.

"The DEP urges residents to arm themselves with information about pesticides used in their homes,'' Skacel added. "Also, we are cautioning that pesticides can only be used in strict accordance with the product label. Persistent bedbug problems sometimes prompt companies or desperate residents to use substances that can create hazardous situations, leading to potential health problems that are far more serious than bedbug bites."

An administrative order was issued by DEP in July directing TVF to immediately cease all applications using the two chemicals and to clean up affected residences. TVF cleaned up 40 of the 50 residences, Skacel said. The company could not gain entry to 10 of the remaining residences, so DEP advised the owners on recommended cleaning techniques.

Eliminating bed bugs can be difficult but not impossible if done properly, according to DEP experts. Hiring a state licensed pest control professional can increase the likelihood of speeding up success in eliminating bed bugs. The alternative is a do it yourself approach.

Pesticides alone, however, may not solve a bed bug problem. Eradicating the bugs requires an approach that can include a variety of removal methods, including vacuuming, use of intense heat or extreme cold, and monitoring for the presence of bedbugs to prevent invasions. Dogs that are trained to detect bedbugs by sense of smell are becoming a more common tool to determine if bedbugs are present and the extent of an infestation.