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Aircraft Spraying Video

Note about video:
At this time the video can only be viewed in Windows Media Player. Without a high-speed modem, it may take you 15 minutes or more to load; however, you can both view the video as it loads (by clicking the play button) or continue to browse our site while it is loading. As this video is unedited, you will notice a 30-second "blue screen" section in the middle. The picture starts again with the spraying of the first-class cabin.

We are experiencing difficulty when using Netscape browsers, so for the time being, please use Microsoft Internet Explorer. Other viewing formats will be added shortly.

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The link below will start a four-and-a- half minute video of unedited footage showing how a residual (long-lasting) pesticide is applied to a United Airlines plane in Australia. All flights going into Australia or New Zealand by any airline have been treated regardless of whether you have been informed by the airline or not.

In addition, United Airlines makes a practice of using 747-400 aircraft which have been treated with the pesticide, to fly domestic and international routes which do NOT require pesticide use. This means you could possibly be subject to pesticide exposure even if you are not flying to an international destination which requires it.

For the most part, passengers are unaware that they are spending long hours in an enclosed, poorly ventilated environment that has been doused with a toxic chemical. This chemical, permethrin, cannot be applied to planes in this country, which is why United has it done in Australia.

For more information on how this is done, as well as the health consequences to both crew and passengers, please go to the home page of this Web site for stories by journalists Linda and Bill Bonvie.

Still spraying after all these years. This 1950s photo shows a flight attendant dispensing the now banned pesticide DDT in an aircraft cabin.