The editorial team of FBRC continues its analysis of the substances used for disinsection of urban plantings in the regions of Kazakhstan in 2025. This time, Petropavlovsk came under scrutiny, where municipal services are using Deltamethrin and Dimilin to combat blood-sucking insects and ticks. The investigation revealed problems characteristic of the disinsection system: a lack of independent oversight of the procedures for preparing working solutions and insufficient information transparency.
OFFICIAL POSITION: 'EVERYTHING ACCORDING TO INSTRUCTIONS'
According to official documents from the Petropavlovsk city department of housing and communal services, the treatment of green spaces in 2025 is carried out using two main active ingredients: deltamethrin and diflubenzuron (trade name — Dimilin). The authorities stress that only officially authorised substances are used, and the procedures for preparing solutions are carried out in accordance with the instructions.
Treatments are carried out in the spring-summer period after favourable temperature conditions are established. As in other regions, biological methods of insect control are not envisaged, and informing the public about upcoming treatments is limited to publications on social media.
Characteristically, independent experts or public representatives are not involved in the procedures for monitoring compliance with technological processes — the authorities limit themselves to internal regulations and the participation of 'relevant specialists'.
DELTAMETHRIN: AN OUTDATED INSECTICIDE WITH HIGH RISKS
The main substance used in Petropavlovsk — Deltamethrin — belongs to the group of pyrethroid insecticides. If safety precautions are not observed, deltamethrin can cause allergic reactions and symptoms of acute poisoning: uncoordinated movements, shortness of breath, headache, convulsions, and difficulty breathing. The substance is extremely toxic to bees and aquatic organisms, especially fish.
International research notes that deltamethrin is considered an outdated insecticide, as many insect species have developed resistance to it. Around 88% of bed bugs in the USA possess genes that block its action. This calls into question the effectiveness of mass treatments using it.
DIMILIN: A THREAT TO AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
The second substance — Dimilin (diflubenzuron) — is considered a moderately hazardous compound for humans. However, its use can cause problems if regulations are violated: headaches and difficulty breathing in people.
Of particular concern is the high toxicity of diflubenzuron to freshwater invertebrates, including crustaceans and molluscs. The substance affects their reproductive function, growth, and survival. In the conditions of Northern Kazakhstan, which is rich in water resources, this could create serious ecological risks if safety precautions are not observed.
Diflubenzuron persists in the soil and can accumulate in the environment, although it gradually breaks down under the action of microorganisms and ultraviolet light. Recommendations prohibit treatment near water bodies and require restricting access for people and animals for 48 hours after treatment.
SYSTEMIC CONTROL PROBLEMS
The situation in Petropavlovsk reflects the typical shortcomings of disinsection practice in Kazakhstan. In the Unified Register of Certificates of State Registration of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), key information about substances is often missing — hazard classes, routes of exposure, ecotoxicity data, and carcinogenicity levels.
Registration in the register does not guarantee a full safety assessment, and therefore does not give local authorities a clear picture of the risks. At the same time, control over the preparation of solutions is carried out without the participation of independent experts, which increases the likelihood of violations.
In the conditions of municipal services, compliance with strict protocols is difficult, and the consequences of deviations from the norms can be unpredictable.
INFORMATION OPAQUENESS
Publications on social media are not a substitute for proper information provision. Residents do not receive specific instructions: when and where treatments will take place, how to protect themselves, and what to avoid.
Even potentially hazardous substances can be used safely — but only with strict adherence to regulations. In practice, however, standards are often not met, which increases risks to human health and the state of the environment.
CONCLUSION
An analysis of the documents on disinsection in Petropavlovsk reveals problems typical of the Kazakhstani system: a lack of independent oversight and insufficient information transparency.
When using potentially hazardous substances such as deltamethrin and diflubenzuron, strict compliance with all safety measures and the involvement of qualified experts is especially important. Until a full system of public control over the chemical treatment of urban areas is established, residents of Petropavlovsk should exercise reasonable caution during disinsection work.
The presented analysis is based on a comparison of official documents and open sources. However, as we are regularly reminded, final conclusions about the safety of the substances used should be made solely on the basis of official conclusions from competent authorities — after all, the monopoly of power over truth implies that independent analysis is considered incorrect a priori.
The editorial team of FBRC will continue to monitor the situation with disinsection in the regions of Kazakhstan.