If it Sounds Too Good To Be True

   Indeed, mosquito spraying is popular in Columbia / Richland County, or should I say, the concept of mosquito spraying is popular - the concept being that of a benign mist which magically makes the mosquitoes disappear.

   That is basically what I found in an August 1997 random telephone survey of residents of Richland County. Supporters of mosquito spraying outnumbered opponents, 61% - 39%.

   But a funny thing becomes evident when you look at the data more closely: it turns out that the more familiar people were with mosquito spraying, the less they supported it. Among those aware of being sprayed in the current year, opponents of mosquito spraying outnumbered supporters, 70%-30%. The data is shown in the table below;

not aware of
being sprayed
in last 2 years

aware of being
sprayed last year
not current year

aware of being
sprayed in
current year

total

% in favor
of spraying

74%

47%

30%

61%

% against
spraying (total)

26%

53%

70%

39%

% against:
health and smell

7%

24%

30%

14%

% against:
doesn't work

0%

0%

40%

7%

% against:
not needed

19%

11%

0%

14%

% against:
other

0%

18%

0%

3%