Passengers with chemical sensitivities or respiratory ailments, such as asthma, are considered more at risk. D-phenothrin is sold commercially as Black Flag Roach Killer. Airosol is no longer manufactured, but has been stockpiled by United for use on Sydney flights. But the EPA can't prohibit the use of permethrin or d-phenothrin on international flights, and the "World Health Organization" has approved the practice. because, "we really believe the risks outweigh the benefits of use," said EPA product manager Marion Johnson. The chemicals are no longer approved for airline cabin use in the U.S. If the dated certificate for the residual spray expires in mid-flight, passengers will be sprayed in-cabin with d-phenothrin Airosol before being allowed to leave the plane in Sydney. Olympic Committee sponsor that will fly every Team U.S.A athlete and official to Sydney- sprays empty cabins on Australia-bound planes with a permethrin-based product every six to eight weeks. "We test for chemical levels," Ordog said, "We get them right off the plane and they've had high levels" of pesticides, permethrin and other insecticides in their blood. He said he is currently treating more than two dozen flight attendants with symptoms like tremors, memory loss, a depressed immune system and decline in cognitive abilities. Gary Ordog, a California physician who specializes in toxicology, says the chemicals are to blame for longer-term ailments, too. Passengers and flight attendants have said the chemicals reportedly cause stinging, burning and itching of the skin, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, fatigue, hives, dizziness, loss of coordination, and irritability to touch and sound. The Environmental Protection Agency has classified permethrin as a possible "human carcinogen and has banned it and the d-phenothrin product called Aircraft Insecticide in airline cabins." "It's like taking a can of Back Flag roach spray, going into your bathroom, and shutting the door." The practice involves using two chemicals, either permethrin or d-phenothrin, which flight attendants believe are linked to long-term health problems and at least one fatality. "For 15 hours you are eating, breathing, absorbing it in every mucous membrane," said United Airlines flight attendant Cindy Ralles.
Even fewer are aware of the battle being waged by flight attendants and some passengers who have gotten sick and blame the chemicals used. Few of the 111,000 international visitors expected to descend on Sydney, or the travel agents who booked them on flights, know it.
The practice, known as airplane disinsection, has been required of incoming flights by Australian law for years. Airline flying Down Under spray their cabins to protect human, animal and plant pests and diseases from being transmitted to the island continent. They'll be sitting for 15 hours in airtight cabins that have been sprayed with potentially harmful insecticides.
Olympic athletes, along with spectators and officials, will be breathing more than pressurized air when they board flights to Sydney for the Summer Games Sept. Reported by Meri-Jo Borzilleri.įeaturing Gary Joseph Ordog, MD (County of Los Angeles, Department of Health Services, Physician Specialist). SYDNEY-BOUND PASSENGERS EXPOSED TO INSECTICIDES.ĬOLORADO SPRINGS GAZETTE, COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, USA.
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