What happens to Airline Pilots and Flight Attendants (Cabin Crew) when their health has been so badly affected from exposure to toxins in the workplace and are no longer fit or able to work?
The reality for many pilots and crew is explained here by Angel Brain - Former Flight Attendant who had to end her flying career 30 years ago due to Aerotoxic Syndrome.
Angel has continued to help others voluntarily for many years and can fully empathise with those affected on the health issues as well as other problems they face:
“We have a crisis building in our Aerotoxic community and it’s similar to the plight of the Gulf war veterans who were left destitute.
Those left without union support, a financial settlement and/or pensions from their former airlines have been forced to sell their homes and valuables to raise money to live on.
What happens when that runs out?
Some who receive financial aid (benefits) from the U.K. Government Department for Work and Pensions are struggling to manage on the small allowance offered.
This allowance also depends on how much of the National Insurance contributions you paid before you could no longer work and can affect the amount you receive. For those who can no longer work and have to stop after being poisoned, their future company pensions and state pensions are drastically reduced from original forecasts due to no longer being able to financially contribute.
If you are classed as Income related with the UK Department for Work and Pensions, any extra money you could receive from additional benefits, is recalculated and taken out of the existing payment. It is capped.
This leads to a situation for many of ‘heat or eat’ or living hand to mouth, having to forgo the necessary treatments, therapies, supplements etc. for help in their efforts for recovery, as they are now classed as a luxury, along with most other normal life expenses.
Mental health is then affected as the person does not wish to become a burden to others and is left to suffer alone.
Some are now unable to afford to live or die.
Stuck in Aerotoxic purgatory with no chance of escape, thoughts become dark and life becomes intolerable.
The saddest part is we know there are some who have taken their own lives rather than continue living like this.
I was recently speaking with someone affected who asked me “How can I commit suicide and not leave a body to bury as I have nothing left to afford my funeral?”
It’s well known that the neurotoxins can cause suicidal tenancies, but there is the additional issue of wanting the Aerotoxic nightmare to end along with the stress of it all and of course - pining for a career, lifestyle and former good health all lost.
I can relate to this and so much more.”
Angel continues to run two Facebook pages to support Aerotoxic injured passengers and crew -
Flightoxic International and Aerotoxic Antidotes
Angel’s words will probably resonate with many people.
The situation has been allowed to get out of hand with no help or support available for those injured.
• The Aviation Industry will not face up to its duties and responsibilities to its employees or passengers by installing sensor/monitoring equipment and filtration of the air onboard bleed-air aircraft.
• The UK Government are inflicting additional stress and great misery on those affected by pushing them to burden an already failing system which provides very little financial support or the specialised health care required.
In addition, ‘The UK government has inflicted “great misery” on disabled people and other marginalised groups, with ministers in a state of “denial” about the impact of their policies, a UN human rights expert has concluded.’ (2018):
https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/un-poverty-report-uk-government-has-inflicted-great-misery-on-disabled-people
• The U.K.’s NHS does not recognise ‘Aerotoxic Syndrome’ as an illness. Staff in hospital A&E departments and GP’s are not trained to recognise the signs and symptoms of poisoning from toxic fumes onboard aircraft and there is no toxicology testing to confirm exposure.
• For Aerotoxic Syndrome to be recognised, an ICD-10 code is required. This would then advise of the various health outcomes which would be sub-categorised.
• Staff in hospitals and GP’s would then be provided with a medical protocol in order to help and support those affected.
‘ICD-10 is used to classify diseases and other health conditions.
The classifications:
• capture snapshots of population health at a point in time
• provide insights on trends
• inform public health investments
• aid service planning
• reimburse hospitals for the care provided
The classifications have a hierarchical structure, with sub-divisions to allow statistical presentation of data that enables meaningful and useful information to be obtained.’
https://digital.nhs.uk/services/terminology-and-classifications/clinical-classifications#:~:text=In%20England%2C%20OPCS%2D4%20and,by%20the%20Data%20Coordination%20board
• This ‘non recognition’ of Aerotoxic Syndrome is discrimination:
‘The unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, especially on the grounds of ethnicity, age, sex or disability.’
• Those injured are often left undiagnosed (or worse, misdiagnosed) and can become a burden to their GP and an already failing healthcare system because they often present with various health issues for which there is no medical protocol in place to help them.
⁃ The discrimination towards those injured and disabled by Aerotoxic Syndrome is just another indictment of the very sad and cruel state of the world that we currently live in.
Aerotoxic Syndrome was explained in this 2007 document written by Dr. Sarah Myhill:
http://www.unfiltered.vip/uploads/6/0/3/8/6038702/4aea_website_aerotoxic_syndrome_dr_sarah_myhill.pdf?fbclid=
⁃ Victims of Aerotoxic injury are left to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives and carry on as best they can. This will continue until Aerotoxic Syndrome is recognised.
‘So the evidence continues to build, but government and the industry remain unconvinced. Meanwhile, many people continue to suffer from long-term debilitating sickness without answers, such as van den Heuvel, who is trying to move on with her new and limited life. She has advice for anyone who suspects they may be experiencing symptoms.
“Stop flying, the sooner the better, and try to contact people who know more about aerotoxic syndrome and to read about it. The less damage to your brain and nervous system the better, of course. Maybe if you stop flying in time the chronic damage will not be as bad as mine.” ‘ - Evelyn van den Heuvel (2021) - Former KLM Flight Attendant.
https://www.endsreport.com/article/1725702/i-couldnt-feel-hands-legs-toxic-air-poisoning-pilots-passengers-crew
Newsflash!
‘Warning About The Risk of Aircraft Cabin Air Contamination
Aircrews and Passengers' Nervous Systems under Attack
Bearnairdine Beaumont
9/30/2023
‘The French courts ordered an expert assessment in response to pilot complaints, which found persistent air pollution in aircraft cabins and raised concerns about the potential harm to the staff and passengers' health, according to a number of reputable news sources* in France that were published on September 29 and 30, 2023.
A sixty-three-page expert report published by Le Parisien on 29 September confirms pilots' concerns about air pollution in aircraft. Following complaints lodged by two former airline pilots in 2018, investigations were carried out into the "smoke events" (or “fume events”) that occur on board aircraft. These events are characterized by smoke in the cockpit and cabin of aircraft. Researchers are looking into the potential health effects of these occurrences, also called "aerotoxic syndrome", a term coined in 1999 by three renowned scientists, including Dr. Jean-Christophe BALOUET from France, now sadly deceased.
The biochemists and doctors who wrote the expert assessment point out that although the aviation industry has been aware of the problem of air pollution in aircraft for many years, victims’ concerns are frequently disregarded. The evidence is currently being examined by the investigating judges to see if there has been reckless endangerment and involuntary injury. A complaint has also been lodged by the French organization ‘Aerotoxic Syndrome Victims Association’ (AVSA).
According to experts, the main cause of air pollution in aircraft is the polluting of the cabin air by very toxic substances found in synthetic lubricants used in the engines. When these oils run through the compression zones of engines and the seals are worn, problems can result. They note that although exposure to these gases can be more severe during so-called “fume events” (appearance of smoke in the cabin), it can also be chronically present at so-called “low levels” during regular engine operation. It is challenging to quantify the phenomena because it is not usually noticed in the absence of suitable measuring devices and techniques.
Stay tuned for more!’
https://bee572.substack.com/p/warning-about-the-risk-of-aircraft?r=ng4vm&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
For further information on Aerotoxic Syndrome, please visit -
https://www.unfiltered.vip/
Please sign and share this petition.
Many Thanks.