‘Was alleged’?  It still is - the problem has not been rectified. Despite the ‘problem’ being ignored and continually swept under the carpet - IT’S STILL HAPPENING!

Fume Events onboard aircraft have been occurring on a regular basis for many years and are sometimes reported in the media. The actual cause of the problem has been known for decades as it is a fault in the design of bleed-air aircraft. This video explains how and why contamination occurs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETRZDsgjEvE
Video: From - UNFILTERED BREATHED IN - The Truth about Aerotoxic Syndrome.

Despite so many people suffering the effects of contaminated air in aircraft, there is still very little information available on how to recognise and deal with the subsequent illness which can occur, known as ‘Aerotoxic Syndrome’ - and how to get yourself on the road to recovery. Crew onboard aircraft will usually ‘know’ when a Fume Event is taking place but airlines are under no obligation to inform passengers that they have been exposed or what they have been exposed to.
The constant low-level contamination in aircraft can very rarely be detected by anyone. The transient smells onboard are sometimes smelt by crew but have always been accepted as a ‘part of the job’ and years ago were jokingly named ‘Eau de Boeing’ and ‘Eau de Airbus’. As we now know - it’s no joke.

So, what can you do if you have been in a Fume Event or exposed to contaminated air onboard an aircraft?
https://www.aerotoxicteam.com/uploads/6/0/3/8/6038702/info_doc_for_doctors_2019.pdf


https://www.aerotoxicteam.com/medical.html
Source: aerotoxicteam.com

Below is just one example of the many people who contact us - looking for help. This case highlights how long it has taken to finally get some answers:
(He has given his permission to publish but wishes to remain anonymous)

From June 2018:
Ex-Pilot:
“Im a retired BA pilot, and flew 757/767 for 21 years before retiring in 2012. I was initially based in Scotland until 2001 when I became LHR based. Whilst in Scotland we often flew the same aircraft which were used mainly for shuttle with a slightly increased seating configuration. Two or three of these were particularly prone to the "sweaty socks" odour associated with contaminated air, so I probably in small doses had as much exposure as anyone has had. Additionally when LHR based I had two "fume events" requiring the use of oxygen.
In December 2012, six months after retiring, I had a heart attack and had three stents inserted. Since then I have experienced numbness in my feet and occasionally elsewhere and balance problems. I now normally walk with a stick. Additionally I am very sensitive to chemical odours (eg nail varnish and cleaning products).
I had many tests here in Scotland but never a firm diagnosis. Initially MS was suspected but tests were negative and I have no demyelation. Several other things were tested for with lots of mri scans and other tests. Eventually the specialist here said his best guess was hereditary spastic paraplaegia, but the test for this also came back negative. I provided the specialist with much literature about aerotoxic syndrome but this was dismissed as a possible cause of my symptoms.
Late last year in a Balpa newsletter I read about the NHS clinical path, so visited my gp who arranged for me to attend St.Thomas hospital in London, which I did in December 2017.
Whilst the specialist there said that he had an open mind regarding potential contamination of cabin air he said that due to my lack of demyelation he thought it not relevant in my case. He did not think that any more tests were necessary but agreed to review those that I had had before, following up with a telephone consultation. I had this consultation a couple of weeks ago, and basically he just agreed with the consultant in Glasgow.
Particularly considering my long term exposure I was disappointed that no further tests were considered to investigate. If I had had demyelation I would have been diagnosed with ms, so would never have got to St. Thomas's so actually a diagnosis of organophosphate poisoning is impossible using the nhs clinical path.”

https://www.caa.co.uk/uploadedFiles/CAA/Content/Standard_Content/Passengers/Before_you_fly/Health/NHS%20CARE%20PATHWAY.pdf

https://www.caa.co.uk/uploadedFiles/CAA/Content/Standard_Content/Passengers/Before_you_fly/Health/170626%20Information%20sheet%20v7.pdf

What chemicals might contaminate bleed air?

Jet Oils - ‘Abstract - Jet oils are specialized synthetic oils used in high-performance jet engines. They have an appreciable hazard due to toxic ingredients, but are safe in use provided that maintenance personnel follow appropriate safety precautions and the oil stays in the engine. Aircraft engines that leak oil may expose others to the oils through uncontrolled exposure. Airplanes that use engines as a source of bleed air for cabin pressurization may have this source contaminated by the oil if an engine leaks. Examination of the ingredients of the oil indicates that at least two ingredients are hazardous: N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine (a skin sensitizer) and tricresyl phosphate (a neurotoxicant, if orth-cresyl isomers are present). Publicly available information such as labels and MSDS understates the hazards of such ingredients and in the case of ortho-cresyl phosphates by several orders of magnitude.’
Plus - and not limited to: Chloromethane, Acetone, Trichlorofluoromethane, Methylene chloride, Trichlorotrifluoroethane, Carbon disulphide, Methyl term-butyl ether, 2-Butanone, Benzene, Trichloroethane, Toluene, Tetrachloroethene, Ethybenzene, m- and p-Xylenes, o-Xylene.

Hydraulic Fluids - many of the ingredients are unknown due to ‘trade secrecy’. It’s important that people are aware that many of these were originally invented by Monsanto - a chemical giant which was recently bought out by Bayer (another chemical giant) and was found guilty of causing cancer to a groundsman in California recently because it failed to warn people of the dangers:
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/oct/22/monsanto-cancer-roundup-weedkiller-judge-denies-appeal

De-icing Fluids:
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp96-c1-b.pdf


The NHS is a great health service and employs the most amazing dedicated, professional and caring people, but unfortunately was unable to find any evidence of any disease or injury that could be causing the symptoms this ex-pilot presented with.
I suggested that a visit to an Environmental Doctor might give him the answers he was looking for. You not only get the ‘answers’ but the care, help and advice needed on detoxing, diet and supplements tailored specifically from your individual test results in order for you to begin your recovery.
Ex Pilot:
“As you know you get to feeling that you are alone in thinking that you may have toxic poisoning.
I'd be very interested in getting the tests done at the clinic, if only to know whether or not I do have toxins. This is what I had hoped would be done at St. Thomas's.”

Dr Dee Marshall
Biolab, The Stone House, 9 Weymouth Street, London. W1W 6DB.
Nutritional & Environmental Medicine.
www.wellnessmedical.co.uk
(There are many other Environmental Doctors)

From 08 August 2018:
Ex Pilot:
“Just a quick update.
I contacted Dr Marshall and went down to have tests done. These came back showing some problems, the most marked of which was high levels of benzene and its derivatives. Of course she couldn’t say that this has come from aircraft fumes but it is certainly present in the oil so I would imagine that in all probability that is where I got it.
I am going to follow a detox regime and be tested again around Christmas.
Thanks again for your advice, Regards”

16 January 2019:
Ex Pilot:
“As promised, an update:
I had more blood tests at Biolab before Christmas and there has been an improvement in all the levels. There are still some borderline, notably the ones in burnt oil, but I’m pleased so far. I spoke to Dr. Marshall and she has given further recommendations on diet and supplements. She does not plan further blood tests at present but we hope that I may begin to get an improvement in my neuropathy. We will revue in about three months.
All the best,”

I’m so pleased that this ex-pilot has taken responsibility for his health and hope he will begin to see an improvement very soon.
When this ex-pilot said ‘you get to feeling alone in thinking that you may have toxic poisoning’, I understood that feeling only too well - as have 1000’s of others. You certainly DO feel very alone, but when your health is deteriorating and there is no medical explanation the only way of getting the help you need is from others who have been through the same experience who can tell you where to get the answers, help and advice you desperately need in order to get on the road to recovery.
This needs to change. The NHS needs to move forward on toxic poisoning from fumes within the aircraft industry. At present the NHS will only treat each symptom individually and this usually involves the use of drugs - which only treats the symptom but does not provide a cure - and adding drugs into the system of someone who has toxic poisoning can sometimes cause additional health problems. With poisoning from VOC’s and Organophosphates the symptoms cannot be treated individually - that is why many sufferers have initially been mis-diagnosed with other illnesses, then with further testing the illness has been ruled out. Looking at only one symptom as the cause of illness rather than the root cause to ALL of the symptoms is a pointless exercise. Without the recognition of ‘Aerotoxic Syndrome’ there is no help available.
The same can be applied to the farmers who suffered poisoning from sheep-dip and the pesticides and herbicides used in intensive farming and of course the Gulf War veterans who were also exposed to some very toxic chemicals.

Claims that Fume Events are rare are simply not true and the constant low-level exposure to which frequent flyers, flight & cabin crew are exposed on every flight is not even mentioned. Along with this - an individuals body’s susceptibility, vulnerability and reaction to these ‘odours’, ‘smells’, AQE’s (air quality events), or whatever new title the industry cares to call ‘FUMES’ in the aircraft - is being totally disregarded.
Many of the chemicals/toxins people are being exposed to are extremely dangerous to health whatever the ‘level’ of exposure. Some of the levels of chemicals found in aircraft during the Cranfield Study (the Government funded study that the airlines, CAA and Government refer to, to state that the air quality in aircraft is safe) - were only applicable for an adult in a regular working environment and ‘not applicable’ to other groups such as children and the elderly - or in ‘other environments’. An aircraft would most certainly come into that category as it is not a regular working environment.

From ASHRAE - (ANSI/ASHRAE) Standard 161-2018:
‘The environment aboard commercial aircraft is different than that found in other spaces commonly occupied by people. Occupant density is typically high, and occupant activity levels range from almost completely sedentary (passengers) to very active (flight attendants). Aircraft passengers and crew make up a wide cross section of the general population, ranging from the very young to the very old, from the healthy to the infirm, and from frequent fliers to inexperienced fliers. In addition, the aircraft must be regarded as both a public place (passengers) and a workplace (crew). A unique aspect of the aircraft environment is that, unlike many other indoor environments, including those for some other modes of transportation, occupants cannot remove themselves from the environment. The controlled atmosphere aboard the aircraft in flight is at a lower pressure and relative humidity than that found in many other environments. Further, unlike other indoor environments, the outside air intended for ventilation is first compressed and heated in the aircraft engines/APU or electrically driven compressor, creating the potential for engine-sourced and entrained compounds to contaminate the cabin air.’
https://www.techstreet.com/ashrae/products/preview/2001169


Thank you for your continued support. Please share the information in this update with all your friends and family.