Aircraft air quality |
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Quick links for practical help -- 1.
Practical advice and resources if you are sick after
breathing fumes onboard and want information
about the oil/hydraulic fluid at your airline. 2.
Practical advice and resources on how to recognize and
respond to fumes onboard. 3.
Practical advice on whether/how to file a
whistleblower complaint. *** Examples of
fume events in the news -- LA Times publishes in-depth investigative news piece: Highlights the ways in which fumes can
compromise flight safety (Dec. 17, 2020); also, LA Times published two shorter
companion articles, one describing how the Times conducted its investigation and the other
describing the most common odor descriptors for onboard oil/hydraulic fumes More reports of “dirty socks” fumes onboard: NBC news
segment describes documented fume events that sent crewmembers to hospital and
potentially compromised flight safety (Aug. 16, 2017) Flight crew members say toxic air in plane cabin harmed their
health: Good Morning America segment raises travelers’ awareness about the
potential for exposure to oil fumes inflight (Nov. 22, 2016) “Mystery illness” no so mysterious: Fume event reported on British Airways
flight 286, Oct. 24, 2016. Captain told air traffic control that the diversion
was necessary because of a “fume event” (listen to recording of exchange between ATC and captain, starting
at 3:10) Flight scheduled from SFO-LHR; diverted to YVR. “Unusual smell”
reported during cruise, some of the cabin crew felt unwell, emergency landing,
all 25 members of crew treated upon landing. One passenger said it smelled as
though someone took their shoes off. Another passenger said that medical
attention had been recommended, but the airline would not cover the cost,
quoted at $800 per person. In January 2017, a local news group reported that
the investigation is ongoing after a leaked report described the effects on the crew. Examples of flight safety issues -- Aerospace
journal publishes article about an NTSB investigation into a series of
turboprop crashes: Open access article which reviews 1980s NTSB investigation
into “hypothesis” that aircraft crashed when pilots were overcome by oil fumes
and provides more recent examples of compromised flight safety.
IFALPA publishes Cabin Air Quality documents: The
International Federation of Airline Pilots’ Associations emphasizes the
potential flight safety hazards posed by inflight exposure to smoke/fire/fumes,
and recommends constructive engineering and training solutions. (Dec. 2018 position statement, Dec. 2018 five
page briefing leaflet, June 2013
position statement, Feb. 2013 safety bulletin) ICAO publishes Circular 344: The
International Civil Aviation Organization published a circular that provides
guidance on education and training for airline workers to recognize and respond
to oil fumes onboard, given the potential for flight safety to be compromised
when crews breathe oil fumes onboard. (Nov. 2015) Summary of
documents and investigative reports: Summary of a sample of published documents
that describe potential for comprised
flight safety caused by either confirmed or suspected crewmember
exposure to engine oil-contaminated air onboard aircraft (rev. 2016). The
earliest reference listed regarding exposure to “hot oil fumes” and the
potential for flight safety to be compromised is an aviation
medicine textbook published in 1939. FAA recognizes
pilot exposure to oil fumes as “unsafe condition”: Aviation
regulator mandates inspections and “corrective actions” in the air supply
system on one aircraft type
to prevent crew exposure to engine oil fumes. The presence of oil fumes in the
air supply system is not unique to this one aircraft type because all
commercial aircraft (except for the B787) use unfiltered engine bleed air for
ventilation, and all aviation engines are lubricated with chemically-similar
oils. Swedish air
accident authority (SHK) investigated near-crash on commercial flight during
descent into Malmo, Sweden: Pilot
impairment and temporary incapacitation was documented coincident with them
breathing oil fumes during the descent phase of flight; view video footage of the captain from that flight. Sample of published medical/regulatory articles
of interest -- 1.
Some
published studies have found prevalent, low-level exposure to TCPs and TBP
during “normal” commercial flights (Crump et al., 2011). 2.
In a
small pilot study, researchers correlated spikes in ultrafine particle count on
aircraft in operation with engine power setting changes during four commercial
flights; see -- Michaelis et al., 2021. This paper also includes a robust
discussion on the UFP literature. Of interest, an article by Howard et al., 2018 proposes that part of the causal mechanism
for the symptoms that crews report is cumulative exposure to oil-sourced UFP. Howard, 2020
has also critiqued the inappropriate risk assessment “logic” often used to
downplay the toxicity of engine oil fumes. 3.
Mobil Oil
submitted neurotoxicity data on TCPs to the EPA (1988) - Importantly, in
this Section 8(e) submission to the EPA, Mobil reported that, based on its own
test data, ToCP content is not a reliable predictor
of TCP neurotoxicity. 4.
Counterpoint to the most prevalent myths regarding exposure to oil
fumes in the aircraft air supply system: Article published in the Journal
of Biological Physics and Chemistry, 14: 122–132 (2014). You can access the abstracts of
other articles in that issue, all addressing some aspect of onboard
exposure to oil fumes, or access the full text of the
entire fumes issue in pdf format. Selection of
historical clips and information -- 2015: NBC story regarding lawsuit filed against Boeing. Also
reported by the Today Show and Chicago Tribune. 2013: 60 Minutes
Australia reported on oil fumes on
aircraft-contaminated air on aircraft 2012: International Transport
Workers’ Federation releases educational film -- The ITF is
a global organization with 690 member unions representing over 4.5 million
transport workers in 153 countries, including AFA-CWA. “Contaminated Air: What
You Need to Know” was released in 2012 to help educate airline workers about
the potential for exposure to oil fumes on aircraft, including practical steps
to take if fumes exposure is either suspected or confirmed 2011: Published
review of fume events at one major US airline: Review includes description
of impact of exposure to smoke/fumes on crew health and flight safety. Oct 2011: Boeing suit settlement stirs jetliner air safety debate, Boeing concerned about contaminated air as early as 1953 –
msnbc.com stories
Mar 2011: UK Department for Transport releases
report into flight deck air quality measurements onboard 100 UK flights,
conducted by researchers at Cranfield University (Part I, Part II). Report concludes no problem with aircraft air supply
contamination. Read counterpoint here. 2010:
CNN
story on contaminated air event at one US airline 2008-09: King 5 News
in Seattle ran an exclusive story in early 2009. In April 2008, the BBC
highlighted the dangers of breathing contaminated aircraft air on its news
program, "Panorama." March 2009: ASHRAE
President sent this
letter to the heads of FAA and its European counterpart, EASA, urging the
two agencies to investigate and determine the requirements for bleed air
monitoring and solutions to prevent bleed air contamination with engine oil.
This action was unanimously approved by members of the ASHRAE Aircraft Air
Quality committee (SSPC-161P) in attendance at the Jan. 2009 meeting Sept 2008: Australian
aviation regulator, CASA, has convened an independent Expert Panel on Aircraft Air Quality (EPAAQ). The EPAAQ has a
broad mandate, covering both safety and occupational health and safety matters.
The panel will review the evidence and prepare a report with recommendations.
The report is expected to be delivered by the first quarter of 2010. The CASA website states that “Individuals and
groups representing aircrew members have raised concerns about the possibility
of low level chronic exposure to contaminants in aircraft cabin air leading to
potential long term health effects. Some flight crew have reported a variety of
symptoms that they have associated with cabin air quality. The evidence based
relationship between cabin air exposures (either in normal operations or
following incidents) and ill health in aircraft crews has been difficult to
ascertain. The expert panel will: review existing literature on cabin air
quality; seek submissions from interested parties who wish to provide evidence
for consideration by the panel; and review the evidence and submissions and
prepare a report with recommendations.“ Dec. 2007: At long last, the ASHRAE Aircraft Air Quality
Standard 161-2007 has been published. It is a voluntary standard but represents
the best consensus between industry and crewmember unions, and it includes
provisions to prevent hot cabin conditions, limit exposure to oil fumes and
pesticides, require gaspers in crew work areas, and more. The current version of the ASHRAE standard (2018) and its
companion guideline (2021) are available as “read-only” files online. Jan 2007: Australian Transportation Safety Board
releases report
on pilot incapacitation, citing exposure to toxic fumes as the
second-leading cause. April 2007: UK Air Accidents
Investigation Branch issues incident report regarding oil fumes in flight deck
and a necessary diversion. Report recommends that EASA and the FAA require
a flight deck detection and warning system for oil smoke/mist. March
2006: Swiss Transportation Safety Board incident report concludes that
exposure to oil fumes compromised ability of the copilot during approach and
landing, that the captain had not donned his oxygen mask, and that the aircraft
had a history of odors/fumes that had not been addressed. Aug
2005: OSHA succumbs to
pressure to settle case with ExxonMobil (see Aug 2004). Crewmembers and their doctors need to understand that the
current "warnings" that ExxonMobil has published ignore the health
risks associated with inhalation of engine oils and ignore the toxicity of meta
and para isomers of the neurotoxic tricresylphosphates.
Bottom line: if you are a hen, drink large volumes of engine oil, and
are only worried about short-term effects to your peripheral nervous system,
then the current warnings on the ExxonMobil labels and data sheets are okay. Aug
2004: OSHA cites
engine oil manufacturer Crewmembers
and passengers can suffer neurological damage after exposure to aerosolized oil
mists in the cabin and cockpit of commercial aircraft. In Feb 2004, AFA filed a
complaint with OSHA, stating that ExxonMobil had,
without basis, watered down the warnings about nervous system damage on the
labels and Material Safety Data Sheets of its jet engine oils. ExxonMobil was
relying on research that was incomplete and irrelevant to the exposure
conditions and symptoms experienced by crewmembers and passengers. June 2004: FAA acknowledges
that exposure to pyrolyzed engine oil can cause impairment of the
operational skills and abilities of the flightcrew, which could result in
reduced controllability of the airplane.” Policy applies to BAe146 aircraft,
but all commercial aircraft have bleed air system and all use chemically
similar oils 2004: Aviation
Organophosphate Information Site (AOPIS) releases documentary
video on aircraft air supply contamination and the serious health effects
it can cause among flight attendants, pilots, and passengers July 2003: AFA review of
FAA response to 2002 National Research Council committee recommendations on
aircraft air quality In January 2002, the NRC Committee on Air Quality
in Passenger Cabins of Commercial Aircraft released a report
that detailed its year-long assessment of air quality on commercial aircraft,
including ten recommendations. In response, the FAA acknowledged that it “has not kept
pace with public expectation and concern about air quality and does not afford
explicit protection from particulate matter and other chemical and biological
hazards.” To date, though, the FAA has still failed to take any meaningful
action. June 2003: Aircraft air
quality: What's wrong with it and what needs to be done AFA
submission to the Aviation Subcommittee of The Transportation &
Infrastructure Committee, US House of Representatives. Association of Flight
Attendants, AFL-CIO. Also see passenger
submission to Aviation Subcommittee hearing June 2003: Timeline of events
related to the introduction of ozone exposure standards on commercial aircraft,
1976-1983 Association of Flight
Attendants, AFL-CIO Feb 2003: Position paper of
the International Task Group on Aircraft Air Quality Labor group
under the International Transport Workers' Federation concerned about aircraft
air quality; members represent cabin crew in the US, Australia, Canada, Europe,
Mexico, and South America. Jan 2003:
FAA issues a
recommendation (not a regulation) that aircraft passengers not be left without
ventilation for more than 30 minutes. We are unaware of action by
the airlines to implement this recommendation as policy. Nov 2002:
Update on oil
switch at Alaska Airlines and its relevance to crew and passenger health Aug 2002:
UK regulator
issues recommendations to airlines in light of increased number of reports of
pilot incapacitation Oil leaking from the engines or APU into the
air supply systems cited as "the most probable source" of the
reports, and state that reducing occurrences of oil contamination will also
reduce the risk of flight crew incapacitation. Jan 2002: One page
synopsis of NRC report on aircraft air quality Association of Flight Attendants, AFL-CIO
Nov 2001:
Swedish aviation authority (SHK) investigation into air quality incident
onboard a commercial flight Nov 1999 during which the captain was
incapacitated inflight when exposed to oil fumes. The first officer and the
flight attendants also reported symptoms. Jan 2001:
AFA submission to the NRC Committee on Air
Quality in Passenger Cabins of Commercial Aircraft Oct 2000: Air Safety and
Cabin Air Quality In the BaE146 Aircraft Official report outlining two-year
bipartisan Australian Senate inquiry into complaints of ill health and
compromised aviation safety on the BAe146 aircraft 1956: Early
recognition of oil fumes “problem”
US Air Force biochemist/researcher publishes a paper which recognizes
“the problem” of exposure to oil fumes on commercial and military aircraft.
Some FAA
regulations and recommendations --
Search
14 CFR Parts 25 and 121 for the following current
and historical regulations: 14
CFR 25.831 – Design standard for ventilation, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide 14
CFR 25.832 – Design standard for ozone 14
CFR 25.841 – Design standard for cabin altitude and depressurization limits 14
CFR 25.1309(c) – Flight deck must provide warnings to crew of unsafe system
operating conditions 14
CFR 25.1322 – Flight deck displays must provide pilots with warnings, alerts,
and cautions 14
CFR 121.578 – Operating standard for ozone (not enforced with measurements) 14
CFR 121.219 – Operating standard that cabin be "suitably ventilated,"
plus an operating limit for carbon monoxide (not enforced with measurements) Airworthiness Directive 2000-15-17 (required): Only applicable to certain
aircraft, intended to prevent leaks in particular hydraulic fluid lines that
can result in smoke and odors in the passenger cabin or cockpit (Effective Sept
12, 2000) Advisory Circular 121-35:
Recommend that passengers not be left without ventilation for more than 30
minutes (Jan 16, 2003) Advisory Circular 121-36:
Information on possible allergic reactions (peanuts, etc)
in-flight (Dec 31, 2002) Advisory Circular 120-38: Guidance for airlines to comply with ozone regulations
(Oct 10, 1980) |
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