Contaminated aircraft cabin air: aspects of causation and acceptable risk

Abstract

The occurrence of notable cases of ill health, typically involving cognitive dysfunction and other neurological disorders, among pilots flying jet and turboprop aircraft and cabin crew working on such aircraft [1], has led to the proposition of "aerotoxic syndrome" [2], meaning the complex of disorders, mainly neurological, observed in people whose anamnesis includes frequent flying. It is proposed that the chain of causality ("diagram of immediate effects") shown in Scheme 1 exists. 1

Air-liquid interface exposure of in vitro lung models:improvement and application to study inhalation toxicity of aircraft-related air pollutants

“…Concerns have been raised regarding the potential health risks of exposure to contaminated air in aircraft cabins (Michaelis, 2011;Ramsden, 2012;Winder and Michaelis, 2005). Health effects reported by a fraction of aircraft cabin crews include cough, sore throat, nausea, dizziness, disorientation, and tremors during flight.…”