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by Ellen Rosenbush with additional reporting by Naomi Kirsten
Air Jamaica sprays its planes once a month with Demon WP, a synthetic
pyrethroid insecticide. According to the airline's sprayer, Target
Industries, the insecticide remains effective for up to several weeks. The
U.S. EPA does not regulate the use of synthetic pyrethroids. According to
the Centers for Disease Control, pyrethroids interfere with human nerve
and brain function. Skin contact may cause numbness, itching, burning, or
stinging. Very high levels of exposure can cause reactions ranging from
"dizziness, headache, and nausea" to "muscle twitching, reduced energy,
and changes in awareness" to "convulsions and loss of consciousness," the
CDC reports.
Seeking to prevent routine spraying, United flight attendants and
passengers filed lawsuits in August 2001 that have stalled since the
airline declared bankruptcy in December 2002.
Steps to Help You Breathe Easy
If you're concerned about exposure to onboard pesticides, ask before
buying your ticket whether an insecticide will be sprayed on the flight.
You may want to change your airline, or -- if the flight is to a country
that requires spraying -- your destination.
People who have allergies or asthma or are pregnant and are booked on a
flight requiring onboard spraying can request an exemption, the Fair Air
Coalition says. "The exemption only works if the spraying is done after
landing," says Diana Fairechild, founder of the Fair Air Coalition,
"though it's possible that if spraying does occur normally during flight
you can ask them to spray after. The exemption will allow you to get off
before the spraying on the ground, but no other passengers can deplane."
Before onboard spraying, cover yourself with a blanket.
If the plane on which you will be flying is sprayed when unoccupied, ask
for assurances that the cabin will be aired out before boarding and
ventilated with fresh air during the flight.
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