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The Aerotoxic Syndrome blog is written and maintained by the Aerotoxic Association, a non-profit UK-based organisation dedicated to supporting sufferers from Aerotoxic Syndrome and helping them get their voices heard.

Aerotoxic Syndrome is a severely debilitating condition that can affect air passengers and aircrew after they have been exposed to noxious fumes from the jet engines entering the cabin. This is known as a “fume event”.

Fume events typically (but not always) produce an unusual smell, haze or smoke. According to official UK figures, 1 flight in 2000 is affected by a fume event.

Because the fumes contain highly toxic chemicals – in particular organophosphates (once compulsory in sheep dip but now banned after making many farmers seriously ill) – exposure can have serious long-term effects on your health.

Many aircraft are susceptible to fume events. Top of the list are: British Aerospace 146 and Boeing 757

If you’ve ever felt ill, sick, tired and exhausted for days, weeks or months after a flight, you could well be suffering from Aerotoxic Syndrome.

Symptoms include:

  • Chronic fatigue.
  • Respiratory problems – shortness of breath, chest tightness.
  • Cognitive dysfunction, bad short-term memory, confusion.
  • Dizziness, light-headedness.
  • Heart palpitations.
  • Digestive problems – nausea, diarrhoea.
  • Speech problems – slurring words, word-finding difficulties.
  • Skin disorders – rashes, itchy or burning skin.
  • … or other neurological symptoms.

Pilots, cabin crew (flight attendants) and, of course, passengers may be affected, and ill-health can appear after just one flight involving a serious fume event, or after a long period of flying aircraft known for poor cabin air quality.

It is feared that around 196,000 UK passengers a year are exposed to neurotoxic fumes and would be going to their GPs with symptoms of acute toxicity. (UCL 2006 page 523)

Aerotoxic Association

The Aerotoxic Association is run by a group of former aircrew, whose careers ended prematurely due to Aerotoxic Syndrome, which was caused as a result of exposure to fumes. They now want to help others who may be suffering from the condition.

What’s more, they want the Government and airline industry to take responsibility for the fact that the design of the breathing air supply system is flawed and that the air is not filtered. This poses a serious health threat to anyone who flies.