Safe insecticides?<\/p>\n
Congratulations on your maiden issue of the Sunday edition of
\nThe Jakarta Post, which I found at once entertaining and
\ninformative. On behalf of our company, S.C. Johnson & Son, I
\nwould also like to thank you for publishing excerpts from a
\nrecent interview by Ms. Lenah Susianty on our newest aerosol
\ninsecticide Raid Non-Kerosene in the feature article entitled Are
\nThere Really Any Safe Insecticides? For the article to be
\npublished on your inaugural edition is, indeed, a privilege.<\/p>\n
However, I believe a number of corrections are in order for
\nthe benefit of your readers:<\/p>\n
1. The statement of YLKI researcher Cacik Awananto that \"...
\nit is non-kerosene because it is an aerosol, meaning it does not
\nneed kerosene\" is illogical and erroneous. In fact, most aerosol
\ninsecticides in the market today use kerosene as a solvent. It is
\nprecisely this pungent kerosene odor that many consumers complain
\nabout, and which Raid Non-Kerosene has successfully addressed. To
\nverify this herself, all that Cacik A. needs to do is to compare
\nthe smell of different aerosol insecticide brands with Raid Non-
\nKerosene. It is regrettable that such a glaring error has been
\ncommitted by a supposedly knowledgeable authority from a
\nreputable consumer association. Implicitly, she suggests that all
\naerosol insecticides do not contain kerosene -- a grossly and
\npotentially dangerous statement given the health hazards
\nassociated with kerosene, as expounded on in the article.<\/p>\n
2. Her statement that the chemical (Propoxur) does not
\nnecessarily make Raid Non-Kerosene safer than other insecticides
\nis irrelevant and unfair. The article dealt mainly with the
\nhealth hazards associated with kerosene, which were acknowledged
\nin the opening anecdote about the afflicted lecturer at UI, and
\ndocumented in Dreisbach's Handbook of Poisoning. Therefore, in so
\nfar as Raid being kerosene-free is concerned, it IS safer than
\nordinary kerosene-based insecticides.<\/p>\n
3. As regards the use of Propoxur, we would like to point out
\nthat, as a responsible corporate citizen, S.C. Johnson & Son
\nconducts extensive internal and external testing of its formulae
\nand active ingredients to ensure that its insecticide products
\nare suitable and safe for household use. The company seeks
\nofficial approval from the Indonesian Department of Health and
\nthe Pesticides Committee which subject our products to standard
\nefficacy and toxicity testing before granting the license to
\nmanufacture and market. Raid Non-Kerosene was approved according
\nto this procedure.<\/p>\n
4. Strictly speaking, no available insecticide is totally
\nsafe, because by definition, insecticides contain active
\ningredients to kill household insects. We do not try to promote
\nRaid Non-Kerosene as a safe insecticide. Rather, it is deadly on
\ninsects, yet pleasant to use in homes because it does not leave
\nany pungent kerosene odor. What we should stress is the proper
\nuse of insecticides. This is why we print on Raid Non-Kerosene's
\npackage the precautions and directions for use to prevent misuse.<\/p>\n
5. Finally, I thank The Jakarta Post for the unintended
\nprivilege of \"granting\" me Indonesian citizenship, but, while I
\nmaintain a deep sense of gratitude to my host country, my sense
\nof patriotism to my motherland requires me to clarify that I am a
\nFilipino expatriate, not Indonesian.<\/p>\n
In the true spirit of responsible journalism, I trust that The
\nJakarta Post will rectify the errors contained in the above
\narticle, and exercise more care in the future by, e.g., verifying
\nstatements before printing.<\/p>\n
WILFREDO E. ARCILLA<\/p>\n
Marketing Manager<\/p>\n
S.C. Johnson & Son (Indonesia)<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/safe-insecticides-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }