2023
Volume 23, Number 1, pp. 15-19
Anatomy of an occupational hazard: Cabin air contamination in the air transportation industry Part 1. History - Evolving cabin air contamination
J.M. Lind
CPCU ARM (USA)
This paper succinctly describes the aircraft cabin air contamination problem. It can be kept within acceptable bounds by good engine maintenance. Following airline deregulation, there is relentless pressure to cut operating costs. Streamlined maintenance may preserve thrust, but the quality of bleed air suffers. Although the antiwear turbine oil additive tricresyl phosphate, a well-known neurotoxin, has long been suspected of causing aircrew ill health by leaking into the cabin, there appears to be stronger evidence for carbon monoxide as the main cause of ill health.