How secure is the "quality of air" in a passenger plane?

ByLuke Lai

In Europe, an appeal is being asked for countermeasures as "the air is contaminated in the cabin of a passenger aircraft flying over the sky, which is affecting the health of passengers and in-flight staff." It seems that there are various reactions such as people who sympathize with such an appeal, people who do not feel anything at all, but in fact what kind of state is the air in the cabin?

How safe is air quality on commercial planes? - BBC News
http://www.bbc.com/news/health-32786537

The reason for causing complaints is that it is a group of 17 cabin crews (cabin crew members) including those who have already retired and the serious health damage was suffered by the air in the contaminated cabin. According to the statistics of the British Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) which has jurisdiction over the civil aviation administration in the UK, more than 1,300 events of smoke entering the cabin of a large airliner operated by a British airline have been reported since 2010 Although it is said that it is said that this is a small number compared to the total number of flights, there is also a question that remains to be regarded as causing damage to health immediately.

◆ How to send air into the cabin during flight
Because air pressure is low around the altitude of 10,000 meters where an airliner flying, compared to the ground, humans can not breathe as it is. Therefore, in most passenger aircraft, a part of the flow of high-pressure and high-temperature air generated when the jet engine operates is extracted, introduced sufficiently to the inside of the cabin after cooling and pressure regulation is equivalent to about 2000 meters above ground Maintain atmospheric pressurePressurization systemIt is equipped. The air introduced into this machine is called "bleed air".


Since bleed air passes through the interior of the engine, the possibility of contamination of components such as foreign matter and oil by that route is not zero. Therefore, at aircraft companies, measures are taken with oil seals that prevent oil from leaking out, and air filters are installed in the middle of piping to remove foreign matter and pollutants.

According to the lawsuit, due to defects potentially present in this oil seal and filter, there is a danger that harmful substances such as engine oil and hydraulic fluid that generates hydraulic pressure on bleed air, and organic phosphate esters that may damage health will leak out I am doing. This method, which is regarded as a problem, is a mechanism that most of the currently used jet airliners are introducing, and it is possible to completely avoid this danger by creating electric bleed air using an electric motor instead of an engine Only the Boeing 787 type machine exists.

ByKentaro IEMOTO

The complaint calls this health hazard "polluted air syndrome", but airline and CAA are showing a stance that there is no scientific evidence that such a situation occurs.

◆ Incidence of smoke filling in the aircraft
Imperial College London 's Professor Alan Bouvis has estimated that incidents incurred by smoke are generated once per 2000 flights operated by British airlines. Due to its low incidence, there have not been any cases so far in which data were acquired during actual incidents. In addition, Professor also points out that the level of air pollution is low at the time of "potential fuming incident" and "the possibility of affecting the human body is low".

Meanwhile, Dr. Jenny Goodman, physician of "Biolab Medical Unit" who has visited many crews so far, has heard the anecdote that smoke often goes into the cabin with the old fighter body when starting the engine, and if passengers board Even if smoke is being discharged outside the machine when doing it, there are possibilities that passengers and crew may be affected by residual ingredients.

ByRoger Schultz

Dr. Goodman says, "When you frequently use an airplane or frequent flying on an airplane in a crew service, you will be exposed to continuous low-pollution air for a long period of time" It is pointed out that there is high risk of receiving it. Frank Cannon, a lawyer specializing in aviation, said that pilots and cabin crews are in a state of high risk of health damage and that they may be in health conditions that are not suitable for business due to prolonged exposure to polluted air , Further points out the danger that the pilot will not notice that condition, leading to an increase in the danger of flight without knowing it.

Professor Bobis says that the long-term impact on health hazards due to repeated encounters with smoke incidents is a field that needs further investigation.

◆ Impact on health
According to Goodman physician, polluted air syndrome affects the central nervous system, especially the brain. Although there are differences due to genetic factors, it is pointed out that the chemical substances contained in contaminated air dissolve in the cell membrane inside the body and invade into the cell, eventually spreading everywhere in the body. As a result, it is said that migraine, fatigue, difficulty thinking, pain in joints and muscles, dyspnea and indigestion, and the risk of developing breast cancer for women will be increased.

On the other hand, professor Bobis says that even if there is a smoking incident, the level of chemicals remaining in the plane is "the same level as ordinary households and workplace", which does not affect health. Professor Bobis talks about Goodman's claimNosebo effectIt is said. Nosevo effect means the opposite of the placebo effect, which refers to the effect that certain people's beliefs, imagination, and subconscious effects have on the physical body a negative effect.

ByAbdullah

While Professor Bouvis does not deny that the Nosebo effect will affect health, it points out that this should not be confused with "polluted air syndrome".

◆ What are the possible measures?
Goodman and Canon insisted that airline manufacturers should take measures to ensure filter installation. Canon lawyer points out that "There are 2 to 3 major filter manufacturers in the world". Both of them believe that the fact that airlines are not lucky about filtering measures is due to "tacit understanding" which admits the existence of air pollution.

In a report released by the Committee on Toxicity (Committee on Toxicity) appointed by Mr. BOVIS, appointed by the U.K. Department of Transportation, in 2013, regardless of whether the cause is a toxic substance or a nausebo effect " There is a continuing obligation to lower the risk of causing smoke incidents to occur ".

In a statement, CAA said in a statement, "Although there is no positive evidence linking contaminated air in the cabin with long-term health hazards, that tied situation is not completely excluded."