"An increasing number of commercial airline passengers and flight attendants are being exposed to dangerous fumes while in the air, at times resulting in traumatic brain injuries that closely resemble the deadly concussions experienced by professional football players. As the Wall Street Journal reports, fume incidents have led to emergency landings and sickened passengers being taken to hospitals. Even airline pilots have reported affected reaction times and vision due to the hazardous gases."
"Aircraft manufacturers, including Airbus and Boeing, have long known about the cause: malfunctions forcing oil and hydraulic fluid to leak into the engines, which are then vaporized at extreme heat. This mix can result in the production of neurotoxins, carbon monoxide, and other chemicals. Even worse, according to the paper, manufacturers are cutting costs and downplaying health risks by lobbying against safety measures that could alleviate the problem."
Reported fume incidents on commercial flights have caused emergency landings, hospitalizations, and impaired pilot reaction time and vision. Oil and hydraulic fluid leaks into engines can vaporize at high temperatures, producing neurotoxins, carbon monoxide, and other hazardous chemicals that can enter cabin air. Worn bearing seals in mass-produced jets allow bleed air to carry contaminated vapors into cabins. Manufacturers, including major aircraft makers, have been aware of the underlying cause and have reportedly lobbied against costly safety measures while downplaying health risks. The Federal Aviation Administration recorded about 330 fume events in the U.S. last year.
Read at Futurism
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