Aerotoxic syndrome

The term aero -toxic syndrome possible adverse health effects are discussed, which can be caused by contamination of the breathing air in the cabin of passenger aircraft. Here, problems in the bleed air system are mentioned as a possible cause of contamination of breathing air mainly.

The aero -toxic syndrome is considered relatively unexplored disease, which is currently still under investigation, although it has been known since the late 1950s. The term dates back to 1999 and was introduced by Harry Hoffman, Chris Winder and Jean Christophe Balouet.

About the aero toxic syndrome

Expiration

Nearly all airliners refer the fresh air for the cabin by means of a bleed air system from the compressor of the engine. In case of faulty sealing of the bearing in the compressor oil or oil vapors from entering the cabin air into the air stream of the engine and from there via the bleed air system.

Engine oils

The engines are lubricated with a special oil from which, however, when heated, highly toxic to nerve-damaging fumes that can get under circumstances unfiltered into the breathing air of the passenger cabin. These include materials such as organo- phosphates, phenyl Napthylamine and tricresyl phosphate ( TCP), which were classified by several toxicologists as highly dangerous. Filters for cleaning of the cabin air does not exist. Meanwhile TCP could be detected via a degradation product in the blood of passengers.

Occurrence

Notable cases of this syndrome, there is compared to the number of flights operated very few - especially since only a fraction will ever reported. Although the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt recorded incidents, but not publish it. The British counterpart, the Civil Aviation Authority has recognized 2006 1050 such incidents, of which 444 of them on the Boeing 757 and 233 aircraft further account for the BAe 146, which are thus the most commonly affected types of aircraft.

Trivia

• 2001 in Australia Aviation organophosphates Information Site ( AOPIS ) was established, in which pilots and crew members, who believe they suffer from an aero toxic syndrome, organize. Another group with similar goals is Aero Toxic Association, which is also active in Germany.
• In Australia, a flight attendant was paid € 97,000 for pain and suffering after she was exposed to oil vapors and since then suffering from breathing difficulties. In Germany, a similar suit is pending.
• In August 2010, the German Lufthansa announced due to higher criticism that she wants to take urine samples at their cabin crew. These are examined on the nerve poison TCP.
• The Douglas DC-8 (except for the DC-8- 70's, in which some of bleed air is used) and the Boeing 787 are the only commercial aircraft that do not feed the breathing air through a bleed air system. Both today hardly operated Douglas DC-8, as well as the Boeing 787, although have a bleed air system - both, however this only use for deicing or in the DC-8 (up to the DC-8- 63) also to drive those compressors, the outside air for the cabin pressure to suck and compress so that contamination of the cabin air by gases from engine oils is impossible.

• At the medical center at the University of Nebraska has been the world's only (as of October 2012) developed method which can be detected on a blood sample if a person TOKP - a variant of the TCPs - was exposed. In the co-pilot, who had suffered in November 2011 under severe nausea, retching, and hypotension, TOKP was found in the blood.

• Crews suffer increased because of permanent residence in dry air from respiratory problems and a poor sense of smell.

• So far, only the new Boeing 787 installed separate electric compressors, with the aim to reduce, weight and fuel consumption. Airbus decided closest competitor Airbus A350 for the classical method, they need less maintenance.