On Friday 3rd September 2010 a landmark legal precedent was set in an Australian High Court in which flight attendant Joanne Turner received token damages for an accident that occurred in 1992 after breathing ‘a thick cloud of smoke’ in a British built BAe 146 caused her long term serious ill health; she was 5 months pregnant at the time.

Press Release

September 2010

LANDMARK COURT HEARING FOR SUFFERERS OF AEROTOXIC SYNDROME

On Friday 3rd September 2010 a landmark legal precedent was set in an Australian High Court in which flight attendant Joanne Turner received token damages for an accident that occurred in 1992 after breathing ‘a thick cloud of smoke’ in a British built BAe 146 caused her long term serious ill health; she was 5 months pregnant at the time.

The toxic gases can be released into the confined cabin when engine oil seals wear out or after power changes as all of the air in any modern jet is drawn off the high pressure ‘bleed air’ of the jet engine in what is known in the industry as a “fume event”.

This case has set a crucial legal precedent. University of New South Wales Toxicologist, Professor Chris Winder - one of three international scientists from Australia, US and France who helped to coin the term ‘Aerotoxic Syndrome’ in 1999 to describe the serious ill health effects seen in both aircrew and passengers - said “The decision could be used by others”.

The symptoms of Aerotoxic Syndrome are various as they affect the central nervous system but Joanne Turner had a burning throat, sore eyes, a headache and a persistent cough.

Meanwhile as organophosphates, which are well known from causing sheep-dip farmers serious ill health, are surprisingly added to jet engine oil where they can and do cause serious health problems.

Neurological complaints have been frequently reported by aircrew such as confusion, chronically fatigued,  speech / word-finding difficulties, memory problems – often summarised as leaving aircrew feeling, ‘permanently intoxicated’, ‘zombie like’ or in a ‘vegetable state’.

Capt John Hoyte, Chairman of the Aerotoxic Association, commented: “This is a very significant win. We have known for a long time that if people breathe toxic oil fumes in the confines of a jet it can cause serious ill health, just like tobacco smoking, in some people.

“Fume incidents are recorded monthly by the official Mandatory Occurrence Reports and the resulting ill health on aircrew – some long term and seriously debilitating – noted. Sufferers have been completely denied the opportunity of an aerotoxic legal hearing in the UK in the past but, as a result of the Joanne Turner case, there is hope that fairer solutions could be brought in for future. The Aerotoxic Association believes the aviation industry has been well aware of the design flaw for many years but it will be only when the public understand the issue and demand changes that the possibility of toxic fumes in jet aircraft will be eliminated.”

Meanwhile Boeing identified the issue at about the same time that Aerotoxic Syndrome was first identified in 1999 and have chosen to dump ‘bleed air’ in their new aircraft. The new Boeing 787 Dreamliner has two nostril like holes in each wing root, where fresh outside air is sucked in. This is a return to how the earliest jets were ventilated in the 1950’s and Boeing claim their new aircraft is more ‘environmentally efficient’. A record 950 Dreamliners were sold before its first flight.

UCL (University College London) have stated that around 196,000 passenger a year (500 per day) could be reporting the mysterious effects of toxic exposures to their GP’s who frequently misdiagnose the illness and mistreat the victims with anti depressants or anti biotics.

An Australian court has, after 10 long years, made an historic landmark ruling.

Follow the latest news Aerotoxic Organisation’s Campaign for Safe Cabin Air on www.aerotoxic.org

Press contact: Jennie Madden, telephone 01926 842480 or 07813 937 926 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it