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 May 1999 : Column: 428
ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS
Organophosphates (Aircraft)
Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effects on airline flight crews of organophosphate air pollution on board aircraft. [82322]
Ms Glenda Jackson: An organic phosphate compound Tricresylphosphate (TCP) is used as a load carrying additive for lubricants in aircraft jet engines. While TCP is toxic, it is not comparable to the organophosphates used in pesticides. While an aircraft is in flight, fresh air is taken in through air conditioning packs using compressed air supplied by the engines. These are designed to ensure that fumes from the engines do not enter the aircraft. However, in the very rare event of the failure of an engine seal, fumes could enter the air conditioning system and therefore the aircraft cabin. If this happens, the air conditioning unit can be isolated or the engine shut down, minimising any exposure to fumes.
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Health Survey

A family holiday ruined

"When we boarded the aircraft we were all in excellent health. During the flight, my husband and I started feeling very light headed. We had head pain and felt very fatigued.
 
I could not control my bowels and was continuously in the lavatory...
 
About 48 hours after we arrived, we all developed severe flu like symptoms.
It got so bad that we had to seek medical attention and went to the emergency room at a Florida hospital ....
 
This has proven to be a great battle of red tape and ignorance. It has been an extreme mission and has demanded so much of me at a time when I am at my weakest.
 
 
To any passengers out there who have suffered ill health like this during and after flying, report it to the airline, the public health organizations, and anybody who will listen"

read the full story
The Travel journalist..
 
I stumbled onto your site while attempting to find information on what has happed to me.  I inhaled fumes in the cabin while awaiting a gate for a prolonged period .. I was very sick upon leaving the plane and it escalated until I was hospitalized two weeks ago.  Now ..  I have a serious lung problem and fatigue that makes even doing the dishes difficult. ....  

The 'irony' in this is I write a travel column and this is not what my readers want to hear!"

click here and read the full story