News from BC Legal UK:
‘Horizon Scan of the Disease Market for 2021
INTRODUCTION
At the end of last year, we produced a ‘Horizon Scan’ of the disease (and wider personal injury) market for 2020, which predicted the key topics that were expected to dominate legal news headlines over the past 12-months.
In the course of this feature article, we reflect on the past year of published articles in BC Disease News and assess the extent to which our predictions were correct.
Whilst carrying out this exercise, we also re-scan the disease market for any themes that we believe will recur in 2021.
PART 1 – EMERGING RISKS BY EXPOSURE TYPE
ORGANOPHOSPHATES
Aerotoxic Syndrome
‘Aerotoxic syndrome’ is an as-yet unrecognised medical condition, which is allegedly caused by cumulative exposure to toxic organophosphates in aircraft cabin air (sourced from jet engine ‘bleed air’ supply), during ‘fume events’.
©️Source
https://www.bc-legal.co.uk/bcdn/1159-319-horizon-scan-of-the-disease-market-for-2021
Meanwhile......
Incident: ANZ DH8C near Christchurch on Oct 7th 2021, smoke in cockpit
http://avherald.com/h?article=4ee56ab2&opt=0
Incident: American B738 near Norfolk on Sep 28th 2021, unknown fumes in cockpit
http://avherald.com/h?article=4edfb136&opt=0
Incident: France A320 at Paris on Sep 23rd 2021, smoke on board
http://avherald.com/h?article=4edae90a&opt=0
Incident: Sunstate DH8D at Port Moresby on Mar 16th 2020, smoke in cockpit
‘On Sep 21st 2021 The PNGAIC released their final report concluding the probable causes of the incident were:
The smoke/fumes that entered the cabin through the bleed air system was produced by the oil liberated at the No.3 bearing carbon seal coming in contact with hot surfaces inside the engine.
The wear-out and early fracture of the airside carbon element was believed to be caused by exudation of salt and oxidation of the air side carbon element, processes dependent of the high operating temperatures and humid environments.
The manufacturer of the engine had noted that No. 3 bearing carbon seal is likely to fracture earlier than its first overhaul shop visit as the earliest failure case reported was about 8,500 hours. At the time of the occurrence, the seal had 9,218.11 hours and had not reached the time for its first engine overhaul shop visit. The 718.11 hours more than the wear trend.
Service bulletin SB35341, issued by the manufacturer with regard to the conditions for replacement of No. 3 bearing carbon seal, did not include the wear trend of the component determined by the manufacturer as a condition or consideration for its replacement.’
http://avherald.com/h?article=4d49279f&opt=0
Please watch this video -
Jim McAuslan, BALPA (British Airline Pilots Association) General Secretary - Summary of CAQ (Cabin Air Quality) Conference, London, 21 April 2005:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sfkF27BnpKU
From Jim McAuslan’s speech (above) in 2005 -
‘Is there a problem?’
⁃ ‘Yes.’
‘Is it happening in the workplace, that is, on the aircraft?’
⁃ ‘Yes.’
‘Can we measure what is happening?’
⁃ ‘Yes.’
‘Can we measure what effect it is having?’
⁃ ‘Yes.’
‘Can it be put right?’
⁃ ‘Yes.
Of course it can be put right, but if the aviation industry do that, they are admitting there is a problem and that admittance would cause them harm financially.
You can see here how one aircraft manufacturer managed to hide the ‘toxic fumes’ problem they had inadvertently admitted:
©️Source
http://bleedfree.eu/documentation/a/airbus/
Money is paramount to the aviation industry and with that comes greed.
Shareholder dividends and management bonuses are far more important than the health and well-being of passengers and crew.
Here is an example from 2017:
©️Sourcehttps://viewfromthewing.com/willie
walsh-may-foulest-mouth-airline-ceo-world/
This is why 260 claims of injury against U.K. airlines have been taken on by Unite the Union in the U.K. as mentioned in the BC Legal article.
It now seems inevitable - the only way this can be stopped and subsequently put right, is through the courts.
News report from the USA 2019:
‘Many Jet Airliners Unequipped to Filter Toxic Cabin Air’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyhwAG4gs3Q
50 minute film:
‘Aircraft Air Contamination An Ongoing Health and Safety Issue - AOPIS (2004)’
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wSCM6CeCm1A&feature=youtu.be
One flight attendant’s story (USA):
https://vimeo.com/520030089
Final word from Dr. Mark Montgomery:
https://vimeo.com/520896124
This issue should concern everyone who works onboard an aircraft.
It should also concern everyone who travels onboard an aircraft for business or pleasure.
Please sign and share this petition.
Thank you.