危險！危險！航空班機違規噴灑農藥囉！
牙買加航空會每個月一次在它們的班機上噴灑一種人工合成的除蟲菊殺蟲劑──賽滅寧（Demon WP）。依據機艙噴灑業者「目標工業」表示，殺蟲劑的有效性達數個星期以上。美國環保署並沒有管制人工合成除蟲菊殺蟲劑的使用。但根據美國疾病管制中心的說法，除蟲菊殺蟲劑會干擾人類神經系統與大腦的功能。如由皮膚接觸到可能會造成麻痺、癢、灼熱或刺痛感。而美國疾病管制中心的報告亦指出，暴露在高劑量的此類殺蟲劑環境下，一開始可能會造成暈眩、頭痛、噁心，然後發生肌肉痙攣、無力、喪失知覺，最後產生抽搐與失去意識的各種反應。
為了試圖避免日常的大量噴灑，聯合航空的空服員與旅客在2001年的8月提出訴訟，此項訴訟亦持續到2002年的12月，航空公司宣布破產的那天。
讓您在飛機上輕鬆呼吸的步驟：
如果您擔心會接觸到機艙內的殺蟲劑，在您買票前可先向服務人員詢問此班機是否有噴灑殺蟲劑的動作。如果此班機是飛往需要噴灑殺蟲劑的國家，您或許可以考慮換另一家航空公司，或甚至更改您的目的地。
對於過敏、氣喘或懷孕的旅客，如果預約上了一班需要在機艙內噴灑殺蟲劑的班機，可以向航空公司申請免稅的優惠，航空公平聯盟表示，如果班機在降落後噴灑殺蟲劑，免稅的優惠才會成立。航空公平聯盟的創始者Diana Fairechild說：「雖然在班機飛行的途中進行噴灑是可行的，但您仍可以在噴灑後詢問相關的問題。您可以在噴灑前就獲得免稅的優惠，但前提是您也不能取消搭乘此班機。」
在機艙內要噴灑殺蟲劑之前，請先以毛毯覆蓋自己。
如果您知道此班飛機將會在飛行前的空艙期就噴灑殺蟲劑，您可以詢問航空公司並令其保證在登機前，機艙內部會向外排氣，以及在飛行的途中保持新鮮空氣的流通。(全文完)
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. (End)
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