The supplied air to the cockpit and the rest of
the aircraft comes from filtered recirculated
air and from outside air via compressed engine
bleed air. This is where the potential for the
deadly fumes such as oil, jet fuel, de-icing
fluids, smoke, etc. to enter the aircraft air
supply. Government and industry studies have
been done which indicate cockpit and aircraft
air supply contamination is negligible.
In 2007, The Aerotoxic Association was set up in
the UK to raise awareness of the effects of
contaminated cabin air and show that the bleed
air fed into the aircraft cabin can be
contaminated by organophosphate compounds
leading to occupational health conditions (neurotoxic
poisoning).
Richard Westgate, of Edinburgh, the capital city
of Scotland was a British Airways pilot that had
suffered chronic medical conditions (impaired
memory, concentration, insomnia, sight problems,
delayed reaction times, etc.) in which he
believed was related to toxic fumes seeping into
the air supply in cockpit. In March 2012,
Westgate contacted Aerotoxic Association to
inform the association of his condition and
express his concerns.
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