IF IT CAN KILL BUGS IT CAN ALSO KILL YOU - Pesticides sprayed on commercial airlines

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Subject:  IF IT CAN KILL BUGS IT CAN ALSO KILL YOU
 Date:     Sun, 10 Mar 2002 17:15:03 -0500
From:      Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization:     Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)

To:     Paul Helliker <phelliker@cdpr.ca.gov>
          Director, State of California, Department of Pesticide Regulation 

cc:    Christine Whitman whitman.christine@epa.gov

Dear Mr. Helliker, I thought you might like to read an e-mail dated January 21, 2002 :

Dear Mr. Helliker, I thought you might like to read an e-mail dated January 21, 2002 :

Dear Friends:

IF IT CAN KILL BUGS IT CAN ALSO KILL YOU

If after reading this would you please forward it to everyone on your e-mail list. If you have media contacts, friends in foreign countries, especially Australia , it would be greatly appreciated if you would share this information.

I spoke to many of you earlier about the health problems that I and many other United Airlines flight attendants, pilots and passengers are suffering from the pesticide required by the Australian Government on all airplanes landing there. The real culprit is the Australian Government who doesn't seem to care that to kill a few possible bugs they are jeopardizing the health of the people - babies, children, pregnant women, business travelers, tourists, YOU! United Airlines in order to have the Austalian market, claims the pesticide is safe no matter how many hundreds of ill flight attendants file reports to the contrary. Our union, AFA has not been effective in fighting the problem nor has ALPA the pilots union had any success even though some pilots believe the spray causes neurological problems.  It is a frequent comment that many United pilots die soon after retirement.  Pilots aspire to retire as a747 captain  because that assure! s more retirement pay.  Could there be a connection here? Class action suits by both ill flight attendants and passengers have been toppled by large legal staff on retainer at the large chemical companies. Unfortunately, one can have as much justice as one can afford.

The pesticide is certified to last 56 days and is always kept current and what this means to you and the general public is that United presently has forty-four 747s and all are sprayed because the airplanes are rotated throughout the system.  You can be certain if you are traveling to Hong Kong , Narita , Hawaii , Denver , Washington , D.C., etc. and you are on a United 747 that you are being exposed to pesticide. In fact, the LAX-DEN and the LAX-IAD are used immediately after Australia trips. .After about seven months of occassionally working on the 747s I ended up in the emergency romm with an intense rash, swelling all over my body, headache and mental confusion. Since the rash was only present where I was not covered by my uniform it was readily apparent I was ill from the pesticide. The doctor said I was suffering a severe allergic reaction and that I should avoid further exposure because the reaction could be more serious if exposed again. The doctor als! o said I had suffered severe damage to my immune system. This was almost a year ago and I still get frequent colds,  infections and fatigue. The doctor said that  allergic reactions can take 2-4 days to develope which means that many people who become ill do not associate their illness or symptons with the airplane. There are flight attendants who attribute tumors, tremors, lupus, chronic fatigue, miscarriages, chronic sinunitis, skin problems and cancer to the pesticide.When I requested United Airlines to be scheduled on other aircraft because I could be a possible medical emergency on a 747 I was told that it wasn't possible. I lost pay for that trip and was called in to see my supervisor who suggested I look for other work options if I was so sensitive because flight attendants must be available to fly all aircraft. My supervisor reminded me that United also plans to use 777s in the Pacific in the future.My supervisor then told me the p! esticide was  safe and handed me two pages of United's current po sition on the pesticide sprayng. The paper was a dark pink and will not copy or FAX clearly so what you are about to read is a word-by-word copy of those two pages:

HOT...HOT...HOT NEWS...

DISINSECTION UPDATE 11/00

Dear LAX Flight Attendants,

Your Sydney Task Team has spent the last month and a half advocating and finding answers to the many myths and concerns about the DISINSECTION process. The Task Team consists of Spervisors Karen Buster, Carmen Day, Gail Hanes and Peter Mark. We spent a total of about 20 days on-scene at SYD on this project. This is an all points bulletin highlighting our findings. 

Q: How is the spraying done?

Fact: Spraying begins at 10:00 am and lasts about 20 to 30 minutes. There are 4 teams of "3" people, who consistently perform this procedure for us. One person in each aisle, starting from the rear of the aircraft works forward. The third person monitors the process and is responsible for opening all aircraft doors, overhead bins, and other compartments once the spraying ends. The airplane is vented until the plane is brought to the gate aproximately 2 hours later. Before departure, PAC's are turned on FULL POWER to allow maximun fresh air circulation.

Q. I have Qantas friends who say that their airplanes sit at least 24 hours before departure after spraying. Is it true?

Fact: According to Qantas team, they may occassionally have an overnight aircraft. However, we were shown logs that showed a 5 AM spray for a 7 AM boarding on an overnight aircraft. Qantas can, and has turned an airplane in 30 minutes. United's corporate policy is to vent for at least 1 hour. The Station Manager in SYD exceeds that by at least 2 hours venting.

Q. What other airlines are required to spray this way?

Fact: All airlines flying into Australia . We have contacted Philippines , Malaysia , Cathay Pacific, JAL and Singapore in our research.

Q. I was told the Qantas only sprays the hold or cargo pit. Is that true?

Fact: Yes, but for Australian domestic flights only: Qantas' international requirements are the same as United's.

Q. Why are the walls, counter tops and cushions wet after the spray?

Fact: In the past a manual sprayer was used which sprayed streams of liquid. We've now instituted a fogging procedure and found surfaces dry, using the "finger test" moments after the process. 

Q: I have been on a sprayed airplane everytime. Is this contracted company taking advantage of United and is there a log documenting the history of each aircraft being sprayed?

Fact: The certification of the residual spray is 56 days for each aircraft. 20 days prior to expiration, Maintenance alerts Aircraft Routing to begin routing the plane to SYD. We have 44 747-400 aircraft. With our complex worldwide operation, we must use most of them in the South Pacific market. Yes, there is a log with all plane numbers and expiration dates at SYD.

Q. Where can I find the most current information recoding the last time my aircraft ws treated?

Fact: You may find it in a plastic covering inside door 1L closet, located between First & Business class. 

Q: Why is the scheduled LAX departure aircraft always the one sprayed?

Fact: This aircraft generally sits the longest in SYD, giving it maximum time to ventilate.

Q. I hear you are using a perfume to mask the smell. Is it true?

Fact: No. We are testing a different solution. This new mixture contains an odor absorber, which creates a more pleasant smell similar to that of a freshly shampooed carpet. The smell is not onlly pleasant, but also significantly less irritating to those with nasal sensitivities. 

Q: I was 2 hours late arriving in Sydney . Will this aircraaft be sprayed?

Fact: Not likely. SYD Station Manager, Adam Browne has canceled a scheduled spraying due to late arrivals. Once the plane is cleaned and stripped of all Catering items, this would not allow the minimum 2 hours venting time that he has committed himself to follow.

Q. Why must we spray at top of decent and how much do we spray:

Fact: There are several reasons why this may become necessary. Examples: a new aircraft enters the market; certification expiration; mechanicals; canceled sprays, late arrivals, etc. To meet the requirement of the Austalian government, we must spray two full cans at top of decent, each holding 341 gms. The empty cans must be given to officials when the door opens in Austalia. 

Q: Should blankets and towels be distributed before spraying?

Fact: No. Pursers pleae read the announcement exactly as written in your Announcement Book and do not ad-lib. 

Q: I heard that Permetrin was banned in the U.S. and is illegal. Why are we using it?

Fact: Permetrin is available and is widely used in the United States for many general uses. The EPA has not conducted at this time any specific aircraft studies. They have allowed the airlines to conduct their own research. The World Health organization (WHO) has approved it for aicraft use. 

Q: Is this safe for human exposure?

Fact: Yes. The WHO has approved it for aircraft use. Also, we have used an independent lab in Canada which has approved it and considers the solution safe for aircraft use. Please remember that Permetrin is diluted with approximately 98% water before it is used on the aircraft. 

Q: If it is so harmless, why have protetive gears for ground personnel handling it?

Fact: The spraying teams have an immediate, direct, and continous exposure before any ventilation. Q: I heard that there is a moratorium on spraying the bunkroom. Is that true?

Fact: Not at this time. However the procedures for bunkroom spraying has been significantly improved. Ground crews are now instructed to fog from the bottom of the staircase up into the bunk area. They no longer walk up the stairs with a spray pump. This creates a very low to nil odor. 

Q: So what is United doing for us to improve this process?

Fact: 

1. Testing a new solution that should decrease some adverse reaction. 

2. Changed procedure to fogging instead of using manual sprayers. 

3. We are rerquesting that Australia Quarantine grant us a total exemption for bunkroom fogging-this will be determined later. 

4. Designated a SYD ppoint person daily...there is a CSR (customer service representative) who thoroughly checks all surfaces and general areas before you board. They are available to answer questions. 

5. Opening of the jetway doors immediately when CS opens the flight, to ventilate the jetway. 

6. Making a concession to allow the spraying to be divided between SYD and AKL-if approve, we will advise. 

7. Conducting a new air quality test involving AFA (Association of Flight Attendants), FAA and other concerned departments. This test will consist of pre-spray samplngs, immediately after spray, minutes after, 1-hour, 2 hour and so on. The last test in '97 proved to be safe, but an updated test will be conducted. 

***When top of descent spraying is necessary, please read this announcement before spraying. This can be found in the Announcement Booklet, page 96. 

To conform with (country destination) agriculture and health requirements, the cabin will now be sprayed prior to our arrival in ____________. This procedure, using a non-toxic spray recommended for this purpose by the World Health organizaton, is necessary to avoid the introduction of harmful insects into (country destination). Please remain seated and keep the aisles clear while the aicraft is being sprayed. Thank you. -End of announcement We hear you concerns, and we are being proactive on your behalf. As your Sydney Task Team, we welcome your feedback. Disinsection is an Australian Government requirment. We are asking you to remain professional, and to demonstrate your leadership by keeping any personal concerns out of earshot of our customers.

Respectively Yours, Your Sydney Task Team... 
Karen   Peter Mark   Gail   Carmen

After reading the above do you feel reassured the pesticide is safe? United sent four supervisors to Sydney . These are lay people who had a vested interest in returning to management to report what management wanted to hear. Why not a team of scientists and medical personnel?

Airplanes are possibly vented 1-2 hours after spraying however the spray remains active for 56 days. Passengers and crew members are cooped up sometimes as long as 16 hours on an airplane breathing recycled, toxic air and touching surfaces saturated with poison. Children and babies who are disproportionately affected by toxins are the ones who chew on seat cushions and whose wet fingers go from armrests and dropdown tables back-and-forth into their mouths.

Why not get the approval of the EPA? When did the WHO become the authoritiy on safe pesticides on airplanes.? And, what independent lab in Canada ? When you read the instructions on any pesticide container, you know the ones with scull & crossed-bones, it says to remove plants, animals and food from the area, wear gloves and protect yourself from getting any of it on your skin and absolutely don't inhale or ingest it. And, if you do, immediately seek medical attention. Remember to follow those instructions while on United 747s or any other airline landing in Australia . United Flight Attendants are instructed to  not to tell passengers to cover themselves with a blanket when the spraying must be done while they are onboard. We are told to "keep our personal concerns out of earshot of our customers."    When  the Aussies and United  Airlines and other airlines realize  that fumigating air travelers is&nbs! p;cutting into their profits perhaps then then they will cease this legal, but immoral and unethical practice. Contact the Australian Government and  tell them your'll stay away from the Down Under when they cease trying to  put you "down under" before you arrive!

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