In response to a request from the Association for Flight Attendants, an evaluation of potential employee exposure to toxic gases and lack of oxygen aboard flights of Alaska Airlines, Seattle, Washington was conducted. Flight attendants had experienced symptoms attributed to cabin air quality on MD-80 aircraft. Symptoms included headache, dizziness, blurred vision, mental confusion, and numbness. Environmental monitoring was conducted aboard three test flights and 13 commercial flights. Carbon-monoxide levels were well below the altitude adjusted NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit of 20 parts per million. No toxic exposure or lack of oxygen was identified. A log of illness incidents and medical records for 44 of 192 potentially affected flight attendants were reviewed. The authors conclude that no plausible work related etiologic exposure that would account for persistent neurologic findings among some flight attendants was found.
Health Hazard Evaluation Report HETA 90-226-2281, Alaska Airlines, Seattle, Washington
1993
82 pages
Report
No indication
English
Public Health & Industrial Medicine , Air Transportation , Environmental Health & Safety , Air Pollution & Control , Flight crews , Occupational safety and health , Air quality , Indoor air pollution , Commercial aircraft , Airplanes , Air pollution monitoring , Health effects , Occupational exposure , Flight attendants