Australia and five other countries, including the popular Caribbean island of Jamaica, require airlines to use the chemical or something similar. Five other countries, including the United Kingdom, require pesticides on at least some flights. The consensus is that it kills bugs that could spread diseases. But a handful of critics say the chemicals, designed to linger on seats and overhead bins for up to eight weeks, are as harmful to passengers as the direct spraying of passengers the Department of Transportation fought to stop. Becky Riley, a spokeswoman for the Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides, notes Permethrin is a nerve poison classified as a possible human carcinogen.
Exposure can result in tremors, salivation, vomiting, diarrhea and loss of coordination.
Despite the concerns, airlines say they must comply. If we didn't do it, we could be fined or they could remove our certificate to operate in those countries. Officials in Australia and elsewhere say no. Officials in Australia and other countries say chemicals are crucial to protect their nations from insect-borne diseases. It is free of many of the diseases of animals, plants and people found in the rest of the world.