Burden of Proof: The Debate Surrounding Aerotoxic Syndrome
Stephen E. Mawdsley
‘In 2008, flight attendant Matthew Bass began to feel unwell. Although physically active and in good health, he started to lose weight, contend with bouts of exhaustion, and experience digestive issues. ‘There was a slight tremor in his hands’, his father remembered. ‘I asked Matthew about it and he said it was nothing and said it was probably tiredness’. In an effort to identify the cause of his malaise, Bass underwent medical tests, but the results were inconclusive. Without a diagnosis, he assumed that he was suffering from Crohn's Disease, an inflammation of the bowels. Bass’ health continued to decline and on 30 January 2014, after relaxing over drinks with friends, he lay down and never regained consciousness. An investigation was undertaken into his death, but it did not reveal the cause of his longstanding malady. His parents paid for a comprehensive post-mortem, which showed evidence of ‘chronic exposure to organophosphates’. They believed their son's slow deterioration was due to his exposure to contaminated cabin air while working as a flight attendant. ‘The most difficult part of all of this to come to terms with’, Bass’ father reflected, ‘is that the airlines, industry and the government have known this has been happening for decades but are doing nothing to prevent it’. Did Bass’ occupation expose him to toxic substances? What was known about the potential health risks of contaminated cabin air, and could it be linked to a disease?’
‘Although research affirming AS has appeared in peer-reviewed public health, medical and toxicology journals, this evidence has been met with strident industry opposition.’
‘The case of AS serves an important reminder of how science can become politicized when the stakes are high. For proponents, formal recognition of AS means acknowledgement of a decades-old health risk and occupational illness, which could facilitate claims for compensation and improved medical treatment. For opponents, it means the potential for litigation, tighter regulation and embarrassing headlines, as well as demands for improved cabin filtration and aircraft retrofitting or redesign. For policymakers, tasked with responding to the science of AS, the economic and political significance of aircraft manufacturing and the airline industry has inspired a cautious strategy, advocating further research over formal recognition. For the family of deceased air steward Matthew Bass, ongoing debates have provided little comfort and failed to resolve what their son may have risked while doing the job he loved.’
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9452852/#!po=0.387597
Many thanks to Stephen E Mawdsley - Bristol University for his excellent paper which explains the history, the aviation industry’s opposition as well as the politicisation of science involved with Aerotoxic Syndrome.
Recent Aircraft Fume Events:
28 August 2022
Incident: American B773 over Atlantic - smoke in the cockpit
https://avherald.com/h?article=4fd9199c&opt=0
02 September 2022
United Airlines plane evacuated after takeoff is aborted due to smoke on board
https://simpleflying.com/united-airlines-boeing-777-evacuated-smoke-cabin/
02 September 2022
Incident: Swiss BCS1 near Frankfurt - unusual odour in cockpit
https://avherald.com/h?article=4fdc8c6d&opt=0
02 September 2022
Incident: France E190 at Clermont-Ferrand - pungent smell on board
https://avherald.com/h?article=4fdbecb1&opt=0
05 September 2022
Incident: Qatar A388 at Doha - smoke in cockpit
https://avherald.com/h?article=4fddfac8&opt=0
05 September 2022
Incident: Swiss A320 at Geneva - fumes on board
https://avherald.com/h?article=4fe6e350&opt=0
11 September 2022
Incident: Commut E145 near Lafayette - smoke in cockpit
https://avherald.com/h?article=4fe32bd1&opt=0
16 September 2022
Passengers evacuate Air India flight via emergency slides after smoke starts coming out of plane
17 September 2022
Accident: Qantas B738 at Melbourne - fumes in cabin
https://avherald.com/h?article=4fe63f16&opt=0
19 September 2022
Coast Guard plane makes emergency landing at Mobile Regional Airport due to smoke in the cockpit
Source: Keith Lane | www.mynbc15.com
‘A Coast Guard Search and Rescue plane had to make an emergency landing Monday morning at Bates Field.
The airplane was on a routine mission when the pilot noticed smoke in the cockpit.
Coast Guard officials tell NBC 15 the crew was able to secure the source of the smoke and the plane landed safely.’
24 September 2022
Incident: Dolomiti E195 at Milan - smoke on board
https://avherald.com/h?article=4fed1cf0&opt=0
The saddest part in all of this, is that both passengers and crew are completely unaware, even now - after all this time, of exactly what they may have been exposed to in a fume event or repeatedly at low concentrations onboard aircraft and that the toxins involved could potentially cause them life changing illness in the future which they would probably never link to their exposure onboard the aircraft.
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