Pesticide application in the occupied or soon-to-be occupied aircraft cabin and cockpit can be a serious health hazard for crewmembers and passengers. Pesticide exposure can be significant and some crewmembers must work in the sprayed environment regularly and repeatedly.
Approximately 60 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.
There are no requirements to inform either crewmembers or 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.
The AFA-CWA (The Association of Flight Attendants is the leading advocate for flight attendants) supports the use of non-chemical disinfection methods.
[Editor's Note: Airline passengers concerned about pesticide exposure should call the airline and ask specifically about their flight. There may be an alternative flight that has not been (or will not be) sprayed.]
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