|
June 2001 and January 2003. A question on the use of d-phenophrin for the disinfection of aircraft: is it prohibited in the USA, and will it kill Rhinoceras beetles (SPC Fiji and Nuie)?
D-phenothrin was approved and recommended by World Health Organisation in the mid 70’s. And as far as is known the US was a party to that decision. Why has this matter resurfaced now, after 25 years?
A second question asked if the residual spray – used on aircraft – (presumably permethrin) was capable of killing the Rhinoceros beetle of coconut, Orytes rhinoceros. It was thought highly unlikely that this would be the case. The person who pioneered the treatment said that he had only tested it against mosquitoes, flies and moths, and it worked well. But Rhinoceros beetles are very hard to kill and would need to be in contact with the treated surface for a long time before they absorbed enough chemical to kill them.
The WHO recommended rate is 10g/1000ft3. At the rates recommended for holds and cabins, the treatment is primarily a “knock down”; this is why the cabin and hold need to be inspected, even after manual spraying of cabins (top of descent or by an inspector after landing). In the case of residual treated craft, there is still need to check the cabin/hold for live insects. If insects are found, then a spray of four times the normal rate (40g/100 feet3) is required, held for 10 minutes (operation manuals for Tonga and Micronesia). Inspection for “hitchhikers” is a must, particularly if the aircraft has been loaded at night under lights.
|
