"We don't see pesticide spraying as a first line of control," Dr. Cohen said.

"Not a single major candidate has addressed the issue of pesticide spraying on Staten Island," bellowed the guest.

Suffolk health officials said methoprene protects the public from mosquito-borne diseases, principally West Nile virus, and limits the need for adult pesticide spraying later on.

But many lobstermen believe that the pesticide spraying last September and the die-off were not a coincidence.

While living in a rural location, Downs has suffered repeated illness due to cumulative exposure of pesticide spraying from nearby agricultural farmland.

The two pieces of news prompted them to announce another round of extensive pesticide spraying to kill mosquitoes that carry the virus.

Ms. Alderman says that view represents a serious misunderstanding of the reality of pesticide spraying in schools and what the bill is supposed to remedy.

And the New York Green Party has formed what it calls the No-Spray Coalition to seek a city moratorium on pesticide spraying against mosquitoes.

The state government will order pesticide spraying only in certain situations including when a person who lives in an area has gotten sick and the proximity of infected mosquito pools to people.

It is essential that growers should issue advance warning of pesticide spraying to people who live close by and are thus potentially exposed.