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Aircraft Cabins Pose a Major Health
Risk
Contaminated aircraft cabin air is leading to putting the health
of passengers and flight crew at risk, according to new research.
A study on 18 pilots carried out by Peter Julu, a consultant neurophysiologist,
has found fresh links between fume contamination and chronic medical
problems.
It is the latest research to be carried out on a phenomenon
known as "aerotoxic syndrome" which, campaigners say, could affect
200,000 British travellers a year.
Dr Julu's research comes ahead of the publication of a comprehensive
study commissioned by the Department for Transport, which is being
carried out by Helen Muir of Cranfield University.
Campaigners believe that the threat to crew and passengers is
caused by contaminated air from the engines seeping into the aircraft
cabin.
American research on 26 pilots discovered organophosphates in
their blood and fatty tissue.
Dr Julu, whose research group included nine participants in
the American study, said he found evidence of neurological damage
caused by chemical contamination.
Complaints from passengers and pilots have included nausea and
dizziness both during and after air travel.
However the extent of the problem is still a matter of debate,
with the Government's committee on toxicity believing that passengers
on one in 2,000 flights could be exposed to toxins in cabin air.
In addition analysis of complaints received by the Air Transport
Users Council, attributed some of the health problems to nut allergies
and infectious diseases contracted on board
Others put the figure higher, including Dr Sarah Mackenzie Ross,
a clinical neuropsychologist at University College London, who
believed as many as 200,000 passengers a year could be affected.
Pilots had reported bad smells or what they believed was contaminated
air on a number of aircraft including the Boeing 757, Airbus 319
and BAe 146.
However the plane manufacturers deny their aircraft are putting
the health of those that fly at risk.
A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority said said Dr Julu's
research should be treated with caution.
"This research has not yet been peer reviewed and there are
no details of subject selection or relevant control groups," the
spokesman said.
The Committee on Toxicity in its report in 2007, following an
extensive review with broad stakeholder input, concluded that
there was no evidence that cabin air in general or following fume
events causes ill health in aircrew."
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