Forensic aspects of the aerotoxic syndrome

Med Law. 2002;21(1):179-99.

Abstract

Three decades ago, cabin air quality was seemingly not an issue in commercial aviation and the incidence of disease through air borne vectors or toxic fumes was uncommon among passengers and crew. However, it is claimed that modern day jet airliners generally carry the threat of disease through the ventilator systems of these aircraft which are designed for optimum efficiency, leaving them exposed to lapses in the recycling of clean air and blocking fumes from engine exhausts of the jets from entering the inhabited parts of the aircraft. It has been claimed that aerotoxic fumes are most common in the cockpit, and that the technical crew are the most susceptible to the aerotoxic syndrome.

MeSH terms

  • Aerospace Medicine
  • Air Conditioning
  • Air Pollution, Indoor / adverse effects*
  • Air Pollution, Indoor / analysis
  • Aircraft / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Aircraft / standards
  • Canada
  • Environmental Illness / etiology*
  • Environmental Illness / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • International Cooperation
  • Liability, Legal
  • Occupational Diseases / etiology*
  • Occupational Diseases / prevention & control
  • United States