Passengers are taking matters into their own hands and are measuring the air quality onboard aircraft for themselves. They have shared the information with us using their own mobile phones. These readings are from 4 separate flights on 4 separate occasions. All flights were considered ‘normal’, meaning - no obvious Fume Events occurred.
There are four videos so far, which have been uploaded to the Aerotoxic Team Website shown on the link below:
https://www.aerotoxicteam.com/passenger-videos.html
‘It's in the Air we Breathe - Unfiltered
A frequent flyer's personal pollution measuring devices show clearly how the cabin air is contaminated - different aircraft type and different airline.
Below videos show how at cruise level air pollution becomes harmful marking 034 for formaldehyde (HCHO) 0.229 mg / m3, for TVOC 1.046 mg / m3 and particulate matter (PM) at 2.5 001 ug / m3 during practically the whole cruise; air humidity is 29% and cosmic radiation 0.58 microsivert.
During approach pollution rises marking 038 poor air quality, formaldehyde HCHO 0.323 mg / m3, TVOC 1,481 mg / m3, PM2.5 004 ug / m3, humidity of 28%.
( #1 December 2019 / #2 January 2020 /#3 and 4 November 2019)’
‘The term "fume event" does not describe the facts, because only in the rarest of cases does such an event produce visible smoke, haze or fumes. It does not always have a noticeable smell (e.g. sock-smell, wet-dog, musty, pungent). The term "Cabin Air Contamination Event" (CACE) would be more appropriate, as suggested by Prof. Dieter SCHOLZ /University of Applied Sciences (HAW) in Hamburg, because the breathing air for cabin and cockpit is contaminated most of the time.’
⁃ Bearnadine Beaumont - Aerotoxic Team.
https://www.aerotoxicteam.com/passenger-videos.html
A summary of the readings measured on the QATAR AIRWAYS Boeing 777 Aircraft - by Pedro Gonzalez Baum - Campaigner (Spain):
‘MEASURED PARAMETERS
FORMALDEHYDE HCHO:
Chemical substance found in tobacco smoke and steam produced by burning fuels, such as car leaks, or home stoves and boilers. Formaldehyde is known to CAUSE CANCER. Exposure to formaldehyde increases the risk of having MYELOID LEUKEMIA and BREAST CANCERS FOR NASALES, NASAL CAVITY and NASOFARINGE.
The Short Term Environmental Exposure Limit Value: 0.6 ppm; 0.74 mg / m3.
Environmental Daily Exposure Limit Value: 0.3 ppm; 0.37 mg / m3. These values MUST NOT BE EXCEEDED AT ANY TIME.
In case of inhalation: burning sensation, cough, headache, nausea and / or panting occur. Severely irritate the respiratory tract, and may cause pulmonary edema (the symptoms of pulmonary edema often do not become apparent until a few hours have passed and are aggravated by physical exertion).
TVOC:
They are chemical substances that contain carbon and are found in all living elements. Volatile organic compounds easily convert into vapors or gases. They are released by burning fuels, such as gasoline, wood, coal or natural gas.
Some examples of volatile organic compounds are natural ones: isoprene, pinene and limonene
and artificial ones: benzene, toluene, nitrobenzene
Other examples are formaldehyde, chlorobenzene, solvents such as toluene, xylene, acetone, and tetrachlorethylene (or perchlorethylene). They contribute to the formation of photochemical smog by reacting with other air pollutants.
The health effects are varied, depending on the compound and the period to which it has been exposed. Volatile organic compounds are fat soluble, and thanks to their affinity for fats they accumulate in various parts of the human body. In the short term they can cause:
- irritation of eyes and throat, nose,
- nausea, throat irritation,
- headache, vomiting of blood,
- allergic reactions, swelling,
- dizziness, stomach and intestinal pains
- fatigue, spots on the skin.
And in the long term they can DAMAGE THE LIVER, KIDNEYS or the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. They can also be carcinogens, such as benzene. It also damages the small intestine to such an extent that holes are created that cause death.
Acceptable levels of TVOC vary from 0.3 to 0.5 mg / m3 concentration. From 0.5 mg / m3 of TVOC concentration level onwards, the concern is considered considerable or high.
PM2.5:
Fine particles or aerodynamic diameter = 2.5 µm, its composition is more toxic, since its main origin is anthropogenic, especially emissions from diesel vehicles, being mainly formed by secondary particles: nitrates and sulfates (caused by oxidation of NOx and SOx), secondary organic aerosols, such as peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) and polycyclic AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS (HPA).
The effects they have on our health are very serious, due to their GREAT CAPACITY TO PENETRANTE the RESPIRATORY TRACT.
IN THE VIDEO
Being at the cruise level it can be seen how the air pollution becomes harmful marking 034, the amount of formaldehyde HCHO 0.229 mg / m3, TVOC 1.046 mg / m3 and PM2.5 001 ug / m3 for mostly the whole cruise time, the humidity is 29% and the cosmic radiation of 0.58 microsivert (flight close to ecuador)’.
CAA -
‘From what is currently known about the concentrations of potentially toxic chemicals in contaminated air, long-term toxic effects would not be expected, but this remains an area of scientific uncertainty. (see Further reading 1,2)’
They also say - it’s all in the mind, despite the confirmation of illness’ through medical testing and diagnosis -
‘Nocebo effect Note: Illness, often with physical symptoms and signs, which is triggered through psychological processes in response to a perceived harmful exposure. The phenomenon is analogous to a placebo effect in which symptoms improve in response to a perceived beneficial exposure.’
If passengers can provide readings of poor air quality onboard aircraft, confirming contamination, why can’t the CAA? Furthermore, why haven’t the CAA investigated this matter further? Why has a multi-billion pound industry denied the existence of contaminated air in aircraft for decades along with the long-term damage to the health of passengers and crew?
‘An area of scientific uncertainty’ is no longer acceptable.