Pesticides |
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Click
here to
read about a published case study of anaphylactic reaction to pesticides
applied on aircraft, published in Nov. 2010. The Basics
Pesticide spray
application in the occupied or soon-to-be occupied aircraft cabin and cockpit
can be a serious health hazard for crewmembers and passengers.
Pesticide/solvent exposure can be significant, and some crewmembers must work
in the sprayed environment regularly and repeatedly. Almost 50 countries
require pesticide spraying on all or selected flights, apparently to prevent
the importation of insects that either carry tropical disease or damage
plant/animal health. The cabin may also be pre-treated in a country that does
not require pesticide spraying. Airlines do not inform passengers prior to
ticket purchase or flight. The sprays contain an active ingredient (typically
2% permethrin or d-phenothrin), solvents, and in some cases, propellants.
Reported symptoms include acute respiratory and sinus problems, rash/hives,
headache, and anaphylactic shock, as well as chronic immune, respiratory, and
neurological problems. Damp mattresses and carpet in the crew bunk rooms have
posed particular problems for cabin and cockpit crew. AFA advocates the use of
non-chemical means of disinsection such as the air curtain technology being
tested at a US Department of Agriculture lab in In summary,
there are four reasons that spraying insecticides in the cabin/flight deck is a
bad idea: 1.
Chemical
spraying can adversely affect the health of passengers and crew, in part
because of the sensitivity of some people to the chemical insecticides and in
part because of the potential for over-exposure to onboard insecticides due to lax/non-existent
exposure control programs. 2.
There
is evidence that pesticide loadings on aircraft surfaces are lower-than-expected,
whether because of transfer to crew/passenger skin and clothing, degradation
over time, or both; 3.
There
is evidence of insect resistance to the types of insecticides sprayed on aircraft,
and even without insect resistance, currently-approved chemical disinsection
methods only need to kill 80% of bugs on board to be deemed effective; and 4.
Chemical
spraying is unnecessary because, with some limited R&D work/testing,
non-chemical methods could be used on aircraft instead, as described by ICAO in
2010
and 2013. AFA activity and hot topics
Oct 2016: At
its 39th Assembly meeting, the ICAO Council approved a resolution to
engage with the World Health Organization to develop performance-based criteria
(among other recommendations) for non-chemical methods of disinsection. Read the full
resolution. Sept. 2016:
AFA-CWA Flightlog article: “Zika,
Pesticides, and Appreciation to a Flight Attendant Who Thinks Outside the Box” Apr 2016. In
response to concerns about transporting insects that could carry the Zika
virus, some countries are going to add disinsection (pesticide spraying) rules
on either all or selected incoming flights. This matters because crewmembers
and passengers do not want to be sprayed with pesticides. Given the legitimate
need for countries to prevent the spread of Zika and other vector-borne
disease, it is especially important to complete the development/approve the use
of a non-chemical option to prevent the transport of such insects in the
aircraft cabin/flight deck. Read more here.
Apr 2013. Information on pesticide spraying practices on flights operated by
Canadian airlines Apr 2012. DOT acknowledges
passage of law mandating passengers’ right-to-know about pesticides on their
planes, but no action yet: The US Department of Transportation
acknowledged the Feb. 2012 legislation that requires airlines to inform
passengers of onboard pesticide spraying. The DOT notice commits the agency to
address the requirements in a “future rulemaking.” As of Nov, 2013 the DOT has
still not issued a rule to satisfy the passenger right-to-know legislation,
approved by Congress. (Note that the CDC canceled
its requirement for routine pesticide spraying on certain incoming flights in
1979 because the exposure to the sprays were deemed to ““cause undue
discomfort to many passengers and, in some cases, place those exposed at risk
of developing acute allergic (anaphylactic) reaction.” The CDC also noted that
“the efficacy of the entire procedure is questionable.”) Feb 2012. US airlines
required to inform passengers of onboard insecticide applications, required to
meet foreign quarantine rules (click on link and search for word
“insecticides”): On Feb. 14, 2012, Congress passed legislation to
ensure airline passengers are notified of exposure to insecticides that US airlines
spray to comply with quarantine regulations of approx. 50 countries listed on this DOT website. (Click on link in
title to access Public Law 112-95,
section 415(c), § 42303.
Use of insecticides in passenger aircraft.) The law covers pesticide spraying in countries
that require inflight spraying on all/selected inbound flights, and countries
that accept residual spraying but may spray inflight if residual spray expired.
It should also notify passengers of onbobard
insecticide spraying at any additional airports in countries that may not
require spraying but are contracted with US airlines to spray the cabin, such
that passengers could board a freshly-soaked aircraft prior to boarding. At
present (Nov. 2013), it is not clear if the DOT website information is current,
airlines are not notifying passengers of insecticide spraying, and DOT has not
issued a rule. 2012.
Research paper: Exposure
of flight attendants to pyrethroid insecticides on commercial flights: urinary
metabolite levels and implications Aug 2010. Information on
which flights are sprayed with pesticides (partial list): Concerned
about exposure to pesticides on a flight? Check this list and contact your
airline. If you have additional or alternate information compared to what is on
this partial list of sprayed flights, please email
us. 2008: WHO
issued 2nd edition of revised International Health Regulations,
first published in 2005: This document confirms that the WHO expanded
its definition of disinsection to include controlling insect vectors, in
addition to killing them. This expanded definition meant that non-chemical/mechanical
methods would qualify as disinsection. Aug 2008. Pyrethroids more toxic than previously thought: Center
for Public Integrity publishes report titled “Perils of the New Pesticides” June 2008. Proposed
“passenger right to know” bill: This bill would require airlines to
notify passengers of pesticide spraying rules prior to ticket purchase. It was
referred to the House Subcommittee on Aviation on Sept 2007. US asks WHO to
consider non-chemical disinsection: At the 36th Session of
the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) assembly, the US
Government asked the ICAO Council to urge the World Health Organization to hold
a consultation into non-chemical disinsection methods, with the view to the WHO
accepting non-chemical methods as an alternative to the currently-approved
chemical methods of disinsection. The resolution was accepted and the WHO
intends to convene its consultation in late 2008. A summary of WHO and ICAO
activity on aircraft disinsection is provided here. 2006.
Research paper: A reassessment of the neurotoxicity of pyrethroid insecticides Feb 2005. Practical advice
for crewmembers: Exposed to pesticides on a flight? Read this and take
it to your doctor. Oct 2004. International
body shows support for non-chemical alternatives to pesticides on planes:
ICAO Assembly adopts a resolution that encourages the exploration of
non-chemical means of aircraft disinsection and requests that the ICAO Council
assist the WHO in this effort. Oct 2, 2003. Letter
from AFA President to United Airlines CEO: Request for United to
volunteer to participate in DOT-led testing for non-chemical alternative to
spraying pesticides on planes. Ongoing. What
chemicals are in the sprays? Association of Flight
Attendants, Ongoing. Aircraft disinsection timeline: Association of Flight
Attendants, Ongoing
action. The
ICAO and the WHO say the sprays are safe. Let your voice be heard…:
Association of Flight Attendants, Sept. 2002. To spray or not to spray? Introducing a
new approach to aircraft disinsection: Article
proposing non-chemical alternatives to spraying pesticides on aircraft,
published in Cabin Safety Update, Vol. 8, Issue 9, 2002. Jan 2002.
Excerpts from "The Airliner Cabin Environment and the Health of Passengers and
Crew": Report by the Committee on Air Quality in Passenger Cabins
of Commercial Aircraft, National Research Council; See p.204. Jan 8, 2002. Letter
from AFA President to United Airlines' CEO: Noted that formal request
for United to change the description of the sprays as "safe" in the
flight attendants' manual was pointedly ignored. Nov 2, 2001. Letter
from AFA President to United Airlines' CEO: Formal notification that it
is unacceptable for United to require flight attendants to tell passengers that
the pesticide sprays are "safe" when all evidence is to the contrary.
Requested change to related text in flight attendant announcement book. Aug 7, 2000. Letter
from AFA President to United Airlines' CEO: Description of hazard and
request for United to make specific changes to pesticide spraying practices. References to news articles
June 23-24, 2001.
New Zealand Weekend Herald: "Cabin crew call up war hero in spray
campaign" 1993-2001
.Series of articles by investigative/environmental reporters Linda & Bill Bonvie More information
Fall
2001. You've Been Sprayed:
What Can You Do? Journal of Pesticide Reform, National Coalition for
Alternatives to Pesticides, Vol. 21(3), Fall 2001. Feb 2001. ICAO
Aircraft Disinsection Practices Survey: International Civil Aviation
Organization Facilitation Panel 2000. Description of confounding factors, individual differences, and
interactions related to pesticide exposure: Chapter 8 in: A Review
of the Scientific Literature As It Pertains To Gulf War Illness, Volume 8:
Pesticides. 1996. Australian quarantine: A shared responsibility: Agriculture Fisheries, and Forestry –
Australia, Australia Quarantine & Inspection Service.
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