Insecticides, Air Travel And Safety

We are not insects, we are human beings. To travel by air is a privilege. Air travel is a costly adventure as well.  Those of us who have been fortunate to travel oftentimes experience some amount of excitement leading up to that moment. This heightened sense of emotion happens to almost all of us irrespective of whether we are a frequent flyer or a first timer. This buzz never goes away regardless of whether you travel economy or first class. However, for some folks there is a sense of nervousness during travel. There are numerous lessons we can learn whenever we travel. For example, our outlook on life is often altered due to the interaction with other peoples and cultures. Once the airplane takes off and you begin to ascend into the clouds, sometimes of altitude unbelievable to those without this experience, one can feel like someone who is imprisoned until your flight lands and you disembark. It is usually at those altitudes that the airline crew informs you that they are going to spray the aircraft with an insecticide. This action by international airlines should be discussed with passengers at the time of ticket purchase.  In doing so passengers would be able to ask questions, and or decide whether to travel or not. The last time I travelled I asked the flight attendant the name of the insecticide. It was only moments before she walked the aisle along with two canisters, one in each hand and sprayed the airplane as if the passengers were all insects. She tried to lighten the situation by telling us the insecticide will soon vaporize. It is usually around this time that some passengers place their hands over their nostrils to lessen the amount of insecticide they inhale.  It makes no sense to object at this time since you are thousands of miles up in the clouds and unable to disembark immediately. There are many of us with serious allergy issues, such as urticaria, as well as sinusitis. Many persons also suffer from other respiratory conditions, but our health issues are of no relevance at this time. Apparently, it is an airline policy to spray the aircraft while enroute. When the flight attendant showed me the two canisters she earlier sprayed the aircraft with I immediately wrote the name. The name of the insecticide is d-Phenothrin.
What is D-Phenothrin
According to the National Pesticide Center based at the Oregon State University, D-Phenothrin is an insecticide belonging to the pyrethroid family. Pyrethroids are the man-made versions of pyrethrins, natural insecticides from chrysanthemum flowers. d-Phenothrin is used in homes, commercial settings, gardens, pet products, and mosquito control programs. d-Phenothrin was first registered in the United States in 1976. It is a colorless to yellow-brown liquid with a faint odor.  d-Phenothrin is used in a variety of products to control a wide range of insects. d-Phenothrin can be formulated in insecticide products as aerosols, liquid sprays, and dusts. d-Phenothrin can also be used in products applied by aircraft or truck-mounted sprayers for mosquito control. d-Phenothrin can kill insects by direct contact or if they eat it. It disrupts their normal nervous system function. It is less toxic to mammals due to their higher body temperature, larger body size, and lower sensitivity to the chemical. d-phenothrin is low in toxicity when eaten, breathed in, or applied to skin or eyes. When d-phenothrin gets on the skin, it can cause skin sensations like tingling, itching, burning, or numbness at that spot. These sensations usually go away within 48 hours. d-Phenothrin can also be mildly irritating to skin and eyes. Reported symptoms from eating or breathing in d-phenothrin are rare, but can include nausea, vomiting, throat irritation, headaches, and dizziness. d-Phenothrin can also affect pets if they eat, breath, or touch enough of it. Cats in particular may be more sensitive to this ingredient. d-Phenothrin can cause vomiting, diarrhea, excess salivation, twitching, tremors, or seizures if eaten or applied to the skin. d-Phenothrin can also cause allergic skin reactions and skin sensations.
Travel and Safety
One clearly understands that the spraying of airplanes are standard procedures globally, however, this should not diminish the importance to raise concerns surrounding the safety of these insecticides being used.  Is there another way that could be found to rid the airplanes of insects? How do you feel about being in a enclosed space while that area is being sprayed?  How safe is d-phenothrin? .What are the long term implications to frequent exposure to this chemical especially for the travel crew and those passengers who frequently travel? What impact does d-phenothrin have on babies, the elderly and on passengers with compromised immune systems?  There are so many unanswered questions. What is the active ingredient in d-phenothrin?  It was only recently that we learn about the withdrawal of a popular herbicide from the market due to cancer concerns about this product. To what extent are airline staff capable and equipped to treat someone who might react adversely from inhaling the insecticide?  Perhaps a more long term study should be done on the effects of d-Phenothrin on humans?  Be prepared to be sprayed when next you travel by air. Additionally, during your next air travel adventure pay more attention to the insecticide being used to spray the aircraft. In the words of Rachel Carson, why would anyone believe it is possible to lay down such barrage of poisons on the surface of the earth without making it unfit for all life?  They should not be called insecticide, but biocides.

Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and/or gender issues.

waykam@yahoo.com

@WayneCamo
 

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