Australians Campaign Against Organophosphates
Once you're aloft, how
clean is the air that you breathe inside the cabin? One group,
based in Australia, says it's so filled with dangerous vapors that
it's a life-threatening hazard. Now, they're selling a video they
hope will educate flight crews around the world. Here's their
story:
AOPIS is a non profit group (Aviation Organophosphate
Information Site), set up by "airline crews from all over the globe
to address the issue of aviation oil lubricants and hydraulic
fluids leaking into aircraft air supply systems resulting on
occasion in crew and passengers breathing contaminated air
containing a range of hazardous and toxic substances."
The contaminants of concern include neurotoxins,
organophosphates, sensitizers, carcinogens and carbon monoxide.
Some of the contaminants come from engine oils such as Mobil Jet
Oil II, which contains a known skin sensitizer at hazardous levels,
Tricresyl phosphate, an organophosphate (OP) / neurotoxin with the
toxicity underestimated by industry by up to 30,000 times.
The industry has
accepted crews and passengers being exposed to contaminated air
whilst knowing it has failed to review the worrying synergistic
effects of the ingredients which are heated to high temperatures at
altitude under reduced atmospheric pressures. Neither does it look
at the effect of long term low dose OP exposure and its
effects.
The Mobil Jet Oil II safety label states that "...prolonged or
repeated breathing of oil mist, or prolonged or repeated skin
contact can cause nervous system disorders". Industry has been well
aware that crews were being exposed to contaminated air from at
least 1977, yet insists that inhalation of these fumes, is only a
comfort issue, with no long-term health effects possible. The oil
manufacturer admits that while oil leakage is an abnormal
condition, it is not unsafe.
The aviation industry has disregarded its own ventilation
airworthiness regulations (25.831a/b), which are required to be met
at all times in order for safe flight, yet at the same time
provided industry with extensive non mandatory service &
aircraft modification bulletins dating back to the late 1970s and
1980s clearly indicating the existence of the problem. Only
recently, nearly 20 years later, has the UK CAA made 2 industry
bulletins mandatory, (despite being required to do so when it
considers an unsafe condition exists or could exist / develop).
The aviation industry has insisted that inhalation of these
fumes, is only a comfort issue, with no long-term health effects
possible. However, many exposed crews (some having breathed
contaminated air for years) suffer from repeated short-term
symptoms or become ill long-term with little, if any, recovery and
in some cases pilots have lost their medical certificates required
to fly. The range of symptoms in airline crews include heart
problems, lung disorders, neurological & neurobehavioral
disorders, sensitivity to chemicals, permanent head pressure,
headaches, fatigue, weakness, upper respiratory irritations,
gastrointestinal problems, autonomic dysfunction, etc. Recent
testing in crew has shown neurological autonomic abnormalities
which are considered consistent with those seen in farmers exposed
to OPs in sheep dips. Some passengers get symptoms but are unaware
of the link to having being exposed to contaminated air.
Various papers have now
been published into this issue including the toxicity of the oil
and the health effects suffered by crews and many are listed on the
web site under the scientific/reports section.
While certain types of aircraft are known to experience greater
problems than others, the problem of air supply contamination is in
fact a global one and affects numerous aircraft types such as the
BAe 146, B757, A320& MD80. The health & safety implications
remain the same for each exposure.
AOPIS members have been researching this issue for over 6 years
and have just released a documentary on this issue. Its web site is
touted as the world's leading source of information on aviation air
supply contamination collating information so as to raise
awareness, seek a solution to resolve the problem and ensure much
needed research is undertaken into the medical, scientific and
toxicity issues as well as review air safety implications.
The Video
"Cabin Air
Contamination" is now complete and has been put together to raise
awareness and raise funds for research into this issue. The
documentary, filmed in 5 countries over 6 months, runs for 50
minutes and includes the following areas:
Overview
- 3D graphics of aircraft air systems & air contamination
process
- Initial effects of exposure
- What the scientific experts are finding
- What the medical experts are finding
- What ingredients in the oils are of concern
- Long-term medical effects
- What industry has to say
- What regulations are being broken
- How long has this been known
- How often does this happen
- Legal intro
- Health & safety issues to crews and passengers
- Senate Inquiry, other Gov Inquiries & the "cover-ups"