You spray, so pay: US cabin crews

By SCOTT MacLEOD transport reporter

A United States airline has known for eight years that bug-killers sprayed in jets flying to New Zealand could harm passengers and crew, staff claim.

Susan Matthews of Colorado has filed a lawsuit in Illinois seeking at least $US50,000 ($119,000) from United Airlines for having to work in cabins sprayed to meet New Zealand and Australian laws.

Airlines and New Zealanders specialising in poisons and allergies believe the sprays are safe. But the lawsuit is backed by the US Association of Flight Attendants, which wants compensation for members.

The papers allege United staff get sick from working in the cabins of aircraft that have been to New Zealand or Australia.

They say United investigated the sprays from May 20, 1987, when a passenger complained about a pesticide used on a flight to Mexico. The airline found that some people with allergies or using medicines could "manifest symptoms" when exposed to lots of the spray.

Later, on June 14, 1993, United doctor Daner Reider wrote a prescription telling a flight attendant to avoid the sprays.

The next year the US Environmental Protection Agency banned domestic in-flight sprays. Pesticides are now used only when flying to New Zealand, Australia and several less-common destinations.

New Zealand biosecurity rules force all incoming aircraft to be sprayed for bugs, with either an eight-week residual spray containing 2 per cent permethrin or an in-flight spray with 2 per cent phenothrin, both classed as "pyrethroids".

The American flight attendants claimed the sprays also contain chemicals such as xylene and benzene, which can be dangerous. Its website said residual spray could be "absorbed through the skin or through the stomach if a person eats food prepared on sticky galley counters".

The court papers said the problem was worse for attendants because they flew repeatedly in sprayed Boeing 747-400s with closed cabins and air that was recirculated for 14 hours.

Attendants had become diseased, injured and disabled from the sprays, the papers said.

United said last August that headaches, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, sore throats and other symptoms were caused by jet lag, hard work and dehydration, rather than spray.

Yesterday the airline sent a statement to the Herald which said it sprayed planes only because it was required to by New Zealand law.

"We have the full assurance of the NZ and Australian authorities, plus the World Health Organisation, that the spray is safe," the statement said. "United Airlines has no other comment to make on the issue."

A forensic toxicologist told the Herald that pyrethroids were safe but xylene and benzene could be toxic.

Southern Skies Properties Limited

Air wars - the cast list

www.nzherald.co.nz/travel