Aerotoxic syndrome is a controversial theory that claims that exposure to specific chemicals found in aircraft cabin air can cause health problems for passengers and crew. The principal worry is the possibility of cabin air contamination with engine oil or other chemicals, particularly in aircraft equipped with a bleed air system.
Aerotoxic syndrome refers to the negative health consequences of breathing contaminated air in an airplane cabin. Aerotoxic syndrome has been linked by researchers to exposure to chemicals including motor oil and hydraulic fluid.
Most commercial airplanes supply cabin air using a method known as “bleed air,” in which air is taken into the aircraft’s engines, compressed, cooled, and then sent into the cabin for pressurization and ventilation. However, some experts and activists claim that this system can contaminate cabin air with engine oil or other potentially dangerous compounds, especially in the event of an oil leak or engine malfunction.
Aerotoxic syndrome symptoms can range from headaches to dizziness, nausea, exhaustion, respiratory problems, neurological symptoms, and other health complications. Proponents of the aerotoxic syndrome idea claim that these symptoms are caused by contaminated cabin air.
However, the existence and prevalence of aerotoxic syndrome remain highly debated within the scientific and medical communities. Some studies have found evidence of certain chemicals in aircraft cabin air, but there is limited conclusive evidence linking these exposures to specific health effects experienced by passengers and crew.
Although researchers have shown similarities between the aircraft occupational environment and aerotoxic syndrome symptoms, this disorder is not yet a medical diagnosis because its incidence and origin are currently being debated.
Regulatory bodies such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have investigated cabin air quality and safety, but have found insufficient evidence to substantiate the presence of aerotoxic syndrome as a separate medical disease. Nonetheless, worries regarding cabin air quality remain, and current study investigates potential health risks connected with airplane interior settings.
