The FBCC editorial team continues its series of articles on disinsection in the regions of Kazakhstan. In 2026, in Petropavlovsk, chemical insecticides are once again being used to treat green spaces — a practice that repeats year after year and effectively remains unchanged.
WHAT IS BEING USED IN THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT
According to the Department of Housing and Communal Services of the City Akimat, the work is carried out using the preparations ‘Tsiflunit-ON’ and ‘Butox’. Their active ingredients — cyfluthrin and deltamethrin — belong to synthetic insecticides with a neurotoxic effect.
Deltamethrin, which is part of ‘Butox’, can cause symptoms of acute poisoning — from headaches and shortness of breath to convulsions. It is also a strong allergen and is extremely toxic to bees and aquatic organisms. At the same time, the substance is considered obsolete: some insects have already developed resistance to its effects.
Cyfluthrin, used in ‘Tsiflunit’, acts in a similar way — through disruption of the nervous system. When affecting humans, it can cause nausea, weakness, and difficulty breathing. Its high toxicity to aquatic ecosystems, even at low concentrations, is particularly noted.
The treatments take place in parks and other public spaces — where contact with treated surfaces is virtually unavoidable.
HOW THE AUTHORITIES EXPLAIN THIS
The akimat emphasises that the preparations are approved for use and have passed state registration. According to official information, control is carried out within the framework of current legislation, however, the specific mechanisms are not disclosed in the response.
Informing residents is limited to publications on internet resources and local notices. The possibility of public and independent expert participation is mentioned, but the specific mechanism for such control is not specified in the response.
ALTERNATIVES REMAIN A FORMALITY
The response also mentions the priority of ‘safe methods’, however, biological methods of insect control are only being considered at the planning stage. Which specific methods might be used and whether they are actually applied is not specified.
In fact, it once again refers to chemical treatment as the main and only measure.
A REPEATING PRACTICE
The situation has not changed for several years.
In 2025, the city used deltamethrin and diflubenzuron — substances associated with health risks and high toxicity to aquatic organisms.
In 2023, cypermethrin was used — a synthetic insecticide with a neurotoxic effect, which is linked in studies to carcinogenic effects and impacts on the reproductive system.
Thus, for several years, the city has continued to use chemical insecticides of similar classes, despite the known risks.
WHAT THIS SHOWS
The approach to disinsection in Petropavlovsk remains unchanged — while key issues related to safety and information provision still receive no detailed answers.
Official responses and open sources lack detailed recommendations for residents on how to behave during and after treatment — despite the work being carried out in public spaces.
The FBCC editorial team notes that when using such substances in public spaces, what matters most is not only formal approvals, but also how these requirements are adhered to in practice, as well as how complete the information available to residents is.