If you have ever experienced flu like symptoms after flying commercial airlines, you are not the only one. In the past medical professionals described airplanes as being an incubator for festering diseases’ due to the recycling of air.
According to achooallergy.com, in the 1980s airlines started to mix 100% fresh air with recirculated air to save money and improve energy efficiency. A Boeing 737, for example, recirculates about 40% of its air, while a 757 recirculates about 50%.
However, there could be more serious causes for unpleasant symptoms felt during, or immediately after flying commercial, such as Ozone pollution. Ozone is found in higher concentrations in the sky. It is a very powerful lung irritant. Symptoms of ozone pollution are: chest pains, coughing, shortness of breath, and throat irritation. In addition to Ozone pollution, low humidity may cause burning of the eye’s and skin due to the lack of moisture in high altitude air.
Recently, chemical fumes inhaled during air travel have been an area of serious concern. Although pesticides are routinely sprayed in aircraft flying internationally; other toxic substances like engine oils, hydraulic fluids, and de-icing solutions are contaminating the air on planes as well.
Dangerous levels of tricresyl phosphate (TCP) have surfaced on several swab sample test done on commercial airplanes. TCP acts as an anti-wear substance in jet engine oil, and can induce symptoms such as drowsiness, headaches, respiratory issues, and neurological disturbances.
In regards to the air recirculation system, studies are now showing that less is more. Although less beneficial due to the risk of harnessing airborne viruses, higher percentages of recirculating air on planes are now found to be more beneficial to passengers because of the decrease in levels of TCP and Ozone exposure. In the bleed-air system, fresh outside air is sucked in through the plane’s engine, and circulated throughout the plane. But along with the “fresh air” are toxic fumes from the plane’s engine.
According to a petition filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, a plane filled with a strange mist made an emergency landing. Shortly after Victoria and Valerie Vaughn became seriously ill. The twin sisters complained of symptoms such as severe headache, tremors, cognitive problems, and memory problems; all in which they still experience to this very day. Passengers and airline staff all over the world have complained of similar symptoms.
Karen Burns, former flight attendant, says she experiences tremors and memory loss. And former commercial pilot, Tristan Loraine, made a documentary about being poisoned by fumes throughout his career.
Frequent flyer's and the plane staff are at higher risk of experiencing symptoms due to constant exposure. Other high-risk groups are children, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems.
There is just no way around it, for now airline passengers must make a choice between disease and virus filled air due to poor circulation, or toxic engine fumes pumped throughout the plan in an effort to keep fresh air circulating. The House of Representatives just passed a bill requiring the Federal Aviation Administration to study sensors and filters on planes capable of detecting and removing toxic fumes inside an aircraft. But for now we must protect ourselves.
On my flight back to Atlanta from Los Angeles two passengers, one of whom I had the honors of sharing a row with, became ill. Both passengers, an adult male and a little girl, started to clear their throats compulsively. Soon after they started to cough, and were offered water before the rest of the passengers were served. Then several hours later both the adult male and the little girl started to vomit uncontrollably. During this big “fiasco” I goggled to find out how to protect myself from airplane contamination in the future.
HOW TO MINIMIZE RECYCLED AIR CONTAMINATION
• Wear a face mask to filter out airborne colds and viruses.
• Wash hands frequently and use hand sanitizer for surface germs.
• Use nasal sprays such as Zicam to help support the immune system.
• Avoid touching your face.
HOW TO MINIMIZE OZONE POLLUTION CONTAMINATION
• Wear a face mask to filter out toxic ozone fumes.
• The use of nasal sprays, saline solutions, and skin lotions are recommended for dry air due to high altitude flying.
HOW TO MINIMIZE CHEMICAL AND ENGINE FUME CONTAMINATION
• Wear a face mask to filter out toxic chemicals and engine fumes.
Tonya Lachey
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