Welcome to the home page of
Journalists Linda and Bill Bonvie

Articles by Linda  and Bill Aircraft Pesticide Spraying ***************** Stevia ***************** Methyl Bromide **************** Food Additives and  Other Issues **************** Commentary **************** Web sites created by  Linda Bonvie CHUNKYMONKEY.COM (Voted Hyper site of the week for kids by Yahoo). STEVIA.NET (Called the "most comprehensive" site on the sweet herb stevia by Canadian Broadcasting Company). KEFIR.NET COASTALADVOCATE.COM DRMAGAZINER.COM FOUNDATIONFOR HEALTHCHOICE.COM     REACH LINDA  OR BILL: Linda Bonvie l_bonvie@yahoo.com Bill Bonvie bonviebill@yahoo.com

ARTICLES BY LINDA AND BILL ON AIRCRAFT  PESTICIDE SPRAYING (from 1993 to 2001) "Moon- suited" applicators apply a residual pesticide to a United Airlines plane in Sydney.  Flight attendants are often forced to board aircraft (wearing no protective attire), before the planes have been ventilated effectively or the pesticide has even dried.  (photos copyright 2001 by Linda Bonvie).   In 1994 Linda and Bill broke the story about the exposure of passengers and crew on certain international airline flights to a hazardous pesticide via a practice known as "disinsection." Their article was brought to the attention of former Transportation Secretary Federico Pena and the Environmental Protection Agency, resulting in actions by the DOT and the EPA that have led to most countries dropping  the requirement for such spraying. Australia and New Zealand, however, have continued to require the disinsection of incoming flights.  Most airlines serving these countries, including United, have now switched to a residual (long-lasting) spraying method. But in-flight exposures to the pesticides used have been blamed for a variety of health problems, and are currently the subject of litigation filed by both flight attendants and passengers. The original article, “Flying in the Mist,” published in Buzzworm’s Earth Journal, was mentioned in both USA Today and The New York Times. Linda and Bill were also the first to report United Airlines’ switch to a residual pesticide on flights to Australia and New Zealand, an “invisible” practice of which many passengers are unaware.   To see more photos and get a link to a video showing the residual pesticide spray being applied to a United Airlines plane in Australia, click here.  This video is currently only able to be viewed in Windows Media Player.  We will be adding other viewing formats shortly. Read column by Margie Boule of The Oregonian 4/22/01    back to top Airline's insecticide may be affecting more than bugs San Diego Union-Tribune March 4, 2001 "Bugs remain" Chicago Tribune 3/8/98 "Spraying risks remain" The Boston Globe 1/10/99 "Pesticide sprays finally  bug U.S. airlines" St. Louis Post-Dispatch 1/22/95 "A new bomb in the  bug war" The Chicago Tribune 10/2/94 "Flying in the mist" The San Jose Mercury News 7/17/94 "Flying in the mist"  Buzzworm's Earth Journal 11/93 This is the original feature story that brought the aircraft spraying issue into the spotlight.

Another topic they have extensively researched and written about is the widespread use of the deadly fumigant methyl bromide. Their published articles have included exposes of methyl bromide use at the Hershey Chocolate plant in Hershey, Pa., and the release of methyl bromide as a byproduct of polyester production.

Articles they have done on gulf war syndrome and multiple chemical sensitivity have appeared in many diverse publications, including New Age Journal magazine, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

They are also the co-authors of "The Stevia Story: a Tale of Incredible Sweetness and Intrigue," a book detailing the FDA's attempt to suppress a naturally sweet, noncaloric herb with a long-standing safety record that is already used in many countries as a healthy alternative to both sugar and artificial sweeteners.

Bill's professional background includes extensive reporting and editing experience. He has worked as a staff writer and copy editor on several daily papers in the Northeast. Linda’s original research has been used by leading consumer advocates and organizations. In addition she has designed several popular Web sites including chunkymonkey.com and stevia.net.

The articles on this Web site have been arranged in chronological order, with more recent ones first. Some of their stories on aircraft pesticide spraying (disinsection) that have appeared over the past seven years are presented here to provide a resource for research on the history and evolution of the practice.

The stevia book page includes a link to order The Stevia Story, as well as the book's table of contents.

The Stevia Story: A tale of incredible sweetness & intrigue The Bitter Sweetener Battle Vegetarian Times 7/98 Sinfully Sweet? New Age Journal Jan/Feb 1996 The FDA's brazen attack on the First Amendment. posted 5/24/98 "FDA officials order books about herb destroyed" 6/21/98 by Charles Levendosky, Opinion page editor, Casper-Star Tribune     back to top

Methyl bromide being applied to a field and then tarped.

2005 -- A methyl bromide odyssey "Hershey's Dark Secret" Informed Consent 12/94 An expose of methyl bromide use at Hershey Chocolate. "Reprieve for an ozone destroyer" Harrowsmith Country Life 4/94 "A crisis of complacency" E, The Environmental Magazine 4/93 "Fallout from a pending phaseout" The World & I 8/93 "Dangerous Liaisons -- The alarming disclosure of methyl bromide"  Buzzworm March/April '90        back to top

                                      FOOD ADDITIVES AND OTHER ISSUES

"Consumer group going after 'hidden MSG' in food"  Asbury Park Press 1/97 "Hold the MSG" New Age Journal 10/96 "What's eating kids? Maybe it's their diet" Orlando Sentinel 3/12/95 "Look Mom, No Benefits" Vegetarian Times 11/98  fluoride and water fluoridation "Shaky standards" Vegetarian Times 2/98 About the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 "A debate over silver fillings" Asbury Park Press 8/19/97 "FDA acts to cut threat of 'mad cow'" Asbury Park Press 7/8/96        back to top