Why are we unknowingly prescribed pesticides ?
Many countries mandate planes disinsection, treating the aircraft landing in their countries using insecticides, since the early 1930s to supposedly minimize the spread of non-native potential disease vectors and harmful pests such as malaria and arboviruses, fair enough but at what cost are we doing that ?
What worries me is the fact that pesticides are being used on us without our consent or proper information beforehand.
What is Phenothrin ?
Currently, the most common products used in aircraft disinsection contain a 2 % synthetic pyrethroid insecticide. Researching the safety profile of this product raised a lot of concerns not only for me as a frequent flyer but also for the flights attendants working on the aircraft and being constantly exposed to this poisonous chemical without a proper evaluation of the potential health risks from the exposure to Phenothrin.
- Phenothrin is a veterinary product, also called sumithrin and d-phenothrin, is a synthetic pyrethroid that kills adult fleas and ticks. It has also been used to kill head lice in humans.
- Pyrethroid is an organic chemical mixture meant to be similar to the natural pyrethrins produced by the flowers of pyrethrums (Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium and C. coccineum)
- It is important to know, that veterinary anti-parasitic products (the same with any agricultural pesticides) are not tested on humans. This means that we don’t have any safety data on human exposure before they are introduced to market. The only available information is extrapolated from animal studies, the reason being is that testing this kind of products on humans is considered unethical and is now prohibited for almost 40 years….
- Phenothrin, has a similar mode of action as organochlorines, it disturbs membrane of nerve cell and is recognized to be lipophilic component and potential neurotoxicant that modifies the kinetics of voltage-sensitive sodium and calcium channels by blocking the closure of the ion gates of the sodium channel during repolarization. It is a also recognised as an endocrine disruptor.
- The most common reported adverse effects are : mucous membrane, dermal or ocular irritation, respiratory difficulties with exposure triggering bronchospasm in asthmatics and gastrointestinal disturbances.
- Chronic exposure effects includes : allergic dermatitis, alopecia, facial dysesthesias, personality changes, sensomotor polyneuropathy, memory and concentration deficit, gynecomastia.
Also Phenothrin is an immune system suppressor and a suspected kidney toxicant.
So how can we use a product tested and approved for veterinary use only on humans ?
We are approaching 2020 and medical research has come a long way since an ethical approach to medicine was first outlined in the Hippocratic oath and international bioethics and human rights are far much better established.
As far as I am concerned the Phenothrin is sprayed in the plane with the presence of flyers and crew and not even with the empty engin.
If the product is safe for human use why it has not been properly and knowingly tested on us ?
The answer is very clear it is unethical because of safety concerns, so then how on earth can we claim it is safe to spray it on us without our consent and proper information?
