Inappropriate Use of Risk Assessment in Addressing Health Hazards Posed by Civil Aircraft Cabin Air

Howard Cv

doi:10.19080/oajt.2020.04.555646

Abstract

Toxicological reviews of data on Aerotoxic Syndrome that have been widely referenced by the airline industry tend to use a toxicological endpoint, Organo-Phosphate Induced Neuropathy (OPIDN), that is acknowledged to be the result of a very high dose of organophosphate exposure. Additionally, the reviews tend to only address one chemical, Tri-Ortho Cresyl Phosphate (TOCP), ignoring the presence of other toxic compounds in a complex mixture. In using this to justify the safety of the continued use of unfiltered engine bleed air to ventilate civil aircraft cabins, this represents a misuse of toxicological risk assessment. The approach totally ignores the scientific literature on repeated low-dose exposure to OPs over extended periods, the constant presence of a complex mixture of OPs in engine bleed air and their overall toxicity and the variable susceptibility of individuals to toxicological damage. This paper lists the above-mentioned studies and reviews a sub-set. We present the scientific literature that should be considered to make a realistic risk assessment of the hazards of aircraft engine bleed air.

Highlights

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It should be noted that in the hens in this dosage group there was an over 60% inhibition of Neuropathy Target Esterase (NTE), indicating very high dosing
Example 3) De Ree [32] take a similar approach. Their 2nd paragraph of Section 4 contains the core of the risk assessment: “Based on the detection limit of ToCP (0.5ng/m3 ) maximum uptake via inhalation with a 100% bioavailability would amount up to 0.02ng/kg body weight per day for a crew member of 70kg Step 1, Figure 2

Summary

Background

Their 2nd paragraph of Section 4 contains the core of the risk assessment: “Based on the detection limit of ToCP (0.5ng/m3 ) maximum uptake via inhalation with a 100% bioavailability would amount up to 0.02ng/kg body weight per day for a crew member of 70kg Step 1, Figure 2 This level of exposure was compared with the available lowest No-Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) of ToCP that was established in chickens and amounts to 1.25mg/ kg/ d after a repeated daily oral dose for 90 days Craig & Barth [27]. The paper avoids citing of the latest science on low dose repeat exposure to OPs. the use of OPIDN as the toxicological endpoint represents, at best, a failure of hazard assessment and at worst a complete misunderstanding of the clinical picture presenting in aircrew.

Conclusions

Findings

EASA Research Project