The Aerotoxic Logbook (ATLB) in English (EN)

Literature study on cabin air by the German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI) from 2017

Exactly one month ago we wrote to the BDLI asking for the results of a study that they had announced at the time: a comprehensive literature evaluation about the problem of cabin air. Publication was scheduled for December 2017, which is now 16 months ago. Allegedly a total of around 800 publications found worldwide were evaluated.

We have not yet received an answer. Now, exactly four weeks later - we are following up. We will report when we have feedback.

In March we had addressed the CSU's transport policy spokesman in the European Parliament, Markus FERBER, who in connection with the crash of two Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft had clearly criticised EASA because the authorities had known about the problems of this type of aircraft. But, they said nothing, published nothing and warned no one which is a typical behavior of regulators whose employees are exclusively concerned with their service regulations and have no empathy for potentially injured parties. Markus FERBER had said: "A flight safety authority that classifies a software error as a risk only after two planes have crashed is a risk for the citizen himself".

We brought Markus FERBER's attention to the problem of potentially contaminated cabin air and he replied:

• That he agrees that "this issue deserves more public attention".
• That the EP had on many occasions pointed out to the commission that "this problem should be examined"
• who therefore commissioned an investigation by EASA
• the results of which should be available in December of this year.
• And this is because the Commission is demanding that "events containing unusual odours and smoke must be reported in accordance with Regulation EU No. 376/2014".

FERBER writes:

"I believe that EASA - like any authority - must be closely watched and that one should not hesitate to point out shortcomings and errors. The issue of potentially contaminated cabin air is of great interest to me, I will follow the publication of the study results critically at the end of the year".

We will support Markus FERBER.

The London Economic - TLE

Is now also addressing the problem of potentially contaminated cabin air and the consequences of aerotoxic syndrome.

Bearnairdine BEAUMONT former chief stewardess at Lufthansa now founder and editor in chief of the platform www.aerotoxicteam.com gave a compressed summary about the problem and the current state of affairs.

Bearnairdine BEAUMONT herself is affected. She has not been able to fly following several fume events and is therefore unable to work - she knows what she is talking and writing about.

Aerotoxic Syndrome in Belgium

Two years ago, the Belgian trade union and the pilots' union BECA started to sensitise and educate employees, in particular pilots and cabin crew, about the unsolved and still unresolved problem of the consequences of potentially contaminated cabin air. At the beginning of February 2018 the Belgian Minister of Health Maggie de BLOCK ordered an investigation.

The first known results have now been presented. The Belgian neuropsychologist Daniel DUMALIN found so-called lesions, i.e. polytraumas of affected persons in those areas that control cognitive processes in humans in his initial evaluations of clinical pictures. "This causes concentration and memory problems or hypersensitivity to stimuli. The after-effects are permanent," says DUMALIN.

DUMALIN compares the current situation with that of asbestos and tobacco: "It was only when the scientific evidence became alarming that things started to move."

But it still took a (very) long time for the politicians to get their act together. We recently reconstructed it at www.ansTageslicht.de/Asbestkrimi.

Only political institutions could do anything about it. But in Germany they are strongly influenced by the powerful aviation industry (Airbus, Lufthansa etc.). The industry itself tries to sit out the problem or in individual cases to solve it with a financial settlement including a confidentiality clause. There is no pressure from passengers because no one thinks of associating symptoms after a flight with their flight. So the problem is a communication trap: 'It just doesn't come up' - as one says.

Regardless of this the Belgian researchers continue their work. If you would like to participate in the studies please contact aerotoxbrain[at]proximus.be.

FuSE-Study

Approximately 4 years ago, the BDLI (Bundesverband der Deutschen Luft- und Raumfahrtindustrie) commissioned a "FuSE" (Fume and Smell Event) study at the German Aerospace Center (DLR). According to the BDL (see p. 8), around 800 "scientific and official publications of the past 30 years on the subject of cabin air were commissioned in an extensive literature study".

The results of this study were to be published in 2017. So far this has not happened.

For this reason, we have now submitted these 4 questions to both the BDL and the BDLI:

1) Has this study been completed?

2) Has it already been published, and if so where?

3) Is it accessible to the public?

4) If they have not yet been published, what are the reasons for keeping the results under wraps?

We will inform you of the answers as soon as they have been received.