Air Quality in Jetliners Comes Under Scrutiny

W A S H I N G T O N, Jan. 4 -- An independent review of air quality aboard commercial jetliners got off the ground on Wednesday, with allegations that de-icing fluids, engine fumes and other pollutants may pose onboard health risks.

The National Academy of Sciences review was requested by Congress in response to complaints by groups, such as unionized flight attendants, who spend long hours on aircraft and allege that the air they breathe on the job can make them sick.

“It’s a public health problem that has not been addressed,” said Christopher Witkowski, director of safety and health for the Association of Flight Attendants. The AFA represents more than 40,000 flight attendants at more than 25 airlines.

With cigarette smoking outlawed all U.S. airline flights, complaints in recent years have shifted to other onboard air quality issues like low humidity, stuffiness and the potential for viruses to be transmitted through recirculated air.

Some health problems cited by flight attendants include headaches, nausea and problems with balance. Studies are underway to determine if reproductive health is affected by cabin air quality.

The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement that cabin air quality has been improved over the years and it “looked forward” to identifying any scenarios that might “pose possible risks” and require regulatory action.

The academy will review data on aircraft contaminants from the FAA and other health and environmental organizations and will evaluate potential approaches for improving air quality.

The study, including recommendations, must be completed by September. The academy has no regulatory authority.

Is Recycling Always a Good Thing?

Judith Murawski, an industrial hygienist with the flight attendants association, told the NAS in a public meeting on Wednesday that oil coated on moving parts can warm and emit gasses that can leak into the air supply.

Olney Anthony, an air safety investigator with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, said de-icing and other chemicals “can find their way” into systems that provide air to the cabin. That does not mean, however, those chemicals are not filtered out before they reach the cabin.