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BALPA 2005 CONTAMINATED AIR CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

20-21 April 2005,
London

IN-FLIGHT SMOKE AND FUMES

Dr Bhupi Singh, MBBS, DipAvMed, MD, FAeMS,
Senior Research Officer,
Aviation Medecine,
ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR fORCE

Organophosphorus Ester-Induced Chronic Neurotoxicity

MOHAMED B. ABOU-DONIA

ABSTRACT

Organophosphorus compounds are potent neurotoxic chemicals that are widely used in medicine, industry, and agriculture. The neurotoxicity of these chemicals has been documented in accidental human poisoning, epidemiological studies, and animal models.
Organophosphorus compounds have 3 distinct neurotoxic actions. The primary action is the irreversible inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, resulting in the accumulation of acetylcholine and subsequent overstimulation of the nicotinic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, resulting in cholinergic effects. Another action of some of these compounds, arising from single or repeated exposure, is a delayed onset of ataxia, accompanied by a Wallerian-type degeneration of the axon and myelin in the most distal portion of the longest tracts in both the central and peripheral nervous systems, and is known as organophosphorus ester-induced delayed neurotoxicity (OPIDN). In addition, since the introduction and extensive use of synthetic organophosphorus compounds in agriculture and industry half a century ago, many studies have reported long-term, persistent, chronic neurotoxicity symptoms in individuals as a result of acute exposure to high doses that cause acute cholinergic toxicity, or from long-term, low-level, subclinical doses of these chemicals. The author attempts to define the neuronal disorder that results from organophosphorus ester-induced chronic neurotoxicity (OPICN), which leads to long-term neurological and neurobehavioral deficits. Although the mechanisms of this neurodegenerative disorder have yet to be established, the sparse available data suggest that large toxic doses of organophosphorus compounds cause acute necrotic neuronal cell death in the brain, whereas sublethal or subclinical doses produce apoptotic neuronal cell death and involve oxidative stress.

AVIATION CONNECTION

..Furthermore, OPICN induced by low-level inhalation of organophosphates present in jet engine lubricating oils and the hydraulic fluids of aircraft could explain the long-term neurologic deficits consistently reported by crewmembers and passengers, although organophosphate levels may have been too low to produce OPIDN. Etc...

THE TOXICITY OF COMMERCIAL JET OIL

Chris Winder and Jean-Christophe Balouet - Environemntal Research. Section A 89,146-164, 2002.

ABSTRACT

Jet oils are specialised synthetic oils used in high performance jet engines. The have an appreciable hazard based on toxic ingredients, but are safe in use provided that maintenance personnel follow appropriate safety precautions, and the oil stays in the engine. Aircraft engines that leak oil may expose others to the oils through uncontrolled exposure. Airplanes that use engines as a source of bleed air for cabin pressurisation may have this source contaminated by the oil if an engine leaks.
Examination of the ingredients of the oil indicates that at least two ingredients are hazardous: N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine (a skin sensitiser) and Tricresyl phosphate (a neurotoxicant, if ortho-cresyl isomers are present). Publicly available information such as labels and MSDS understates the hazards of such ingredients, and in the case of ortho-cresyl phosphates, by several orders of magnitude.

"Aviation Air Quality"
- Proceedings of the Aviation Air Quality Symposium, held at University of New South Wales at the Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra, 7 December, 2000.
-Sponsored by School of Safety Science / UNSW, UNSW @ ADFA
-Published by School of Safety Science, University of NSW, Aug 2001

Contents:
-Introductory remarks- Senator J. Woodley
-Airconditioning Systems on Airplanes- N M Armstrong
-Possible Contaminants in Jet Oil Engine Leaks- Winder & Balouet
-A perspective on Cabin Air Quality from the Flight Attendants Association of Australia- S.Brookes
-Lung Injury following inhalation of fumes, dusts and Aerosols- Dr. J Burdon
-Low level Hypoxia- A Thom
-Aerotoxic Syndrome- Winder & Balouet
-Certification of Aircraft in Australia- R. Best
-A pilot perspective on the issue of Cabin Air Quality- L. Cox, AFAP
-Health & Safety in the Aviation Industry- Winder
December 2000 Aviation Air Quality Symposium: Consensus Statement

Copies available for purchase via UNSW (AUD$30 incl postage)
-C. Winder School of Safety Science
University of New South Wales,
Sydney, NSW 2052
Australia

E-mail: C.Winder@unsw.edu.au

"Reproduced with permission of CCH Australia Limited. Originally published in the CCH Journal of Occupational Health and Safety -- Australia and New Zealand, 2003, vol 19 (3)"

"Reproduced with permission of CCH Australia Limited. Originally published in the CCH Journal of Occupational Health and Safety -- Australia and New Zealand, 2002, vol 18 (4)"

Interesting papers in electronic format...

 

Other interesting papers not currently available in electronic format...

Analysis and implications of aircraft disinsectants.
Sci Total Environ 2002 Jul 3;293(1-3):257-62
van Netten C.
Department of Health Care and Epidemiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. cvnetten@interchange.ubc.ca

Abstract---Aircraft disinsection is required by various countries. In-flight spraying with a 2% phenothrin aerosol exposes passengers and crew directly. Residual spaying uses a permethrin emulsions in the absence of passengers and crew and results in dermal and oral exposures. Exposed passengers and crew often complain of, skin rashes, respiratory problems, tingling and numbness in fingertips and lips and burning eyes. A number of formulations were analyzed for their constituents using GLC-Mass. spec. Volatile organic compounds(VOCs) were found in all aerosol preparations including, ethyl benzene and xylene isomers along with phenothrin. Residual sprays contained, cis-, and trans-, permethrins, palmidrol and occasionally naphthalene. Headspace analysis found methylene chloride and hexene derivatives but not the active ingredients. The known synergistic effects between organophosphates and pyrethrins, based on carboxyesterases inhibition, can be expected in the presence of Tricresylphosphates (TCPs), constituents found in jet engine oils and in some hydraulic fluids. During oil seal failure, the presence of TCP in the ventilation air could explain the increased sensitivity of some crew members and passengers to disinsectants.

Inhalation Lung Injuries.
Burdon J. MD.
Aviation Air Quality: Proceedings of the Aviation Air Quality Symposium, held at University of New South Wales@Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra
7 December 2000 (Winder, C., Weber, R., editors) UNSW, Sydney, August 2001. & Aust Senate evidence, submission 9

Mechanisms of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
Toxicology letters 128 (2002) 85-97
Chris Winder

Hydraulic fluids and jet engine oil: pyrolysis and aircraft air quality.
Arch Environ Health. 2001 Mar-Apr;56(2):181-6.
Van Netten C, Leung V.

Comparison of the constituents of two jet engine lubricating oils and their volatile pyrolytic degradation products.
Appl Occup Environ Hyg. 2000 Mar;15(3):277-83.
Van Netten C, Leung V.

Analysis of two jet engine lubricating oils and a hydraulic fluid: Their pyrolytic breakdown products and their implications on aircraft air quality.
Air Quality and Comfort in Airliner Cabins. 1393 ASTM 2000, pp. 61-75.
Van Netten C

Multi elemental analysis of jet engine lubricating oils and hydraulic fluids and their implication on aircraft air quality incidents.
The Science of the Total Environment.
1999;229:125-129.
Van Netten C.

Air quality and Health effects associated with the operation of BAe 146-200 aircraft.
Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene. 13(10)733-739 (1998).
C. Van Netten

Neurological syndromes of organo-phosphorus compounds.
Adverse Drug Reactions and Toxicology Reviews, 16, 133-170.
Jamal, G. A. (1997)

Smoke/fumes in the cockpit.
RAYMAN R.B., MCNAUGHTON G.B.
Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine, August 1983, pp 738-740
RAYMAN R.B., MCNAUGHTON G.B.

Human intoxication following inhalation exposure to synthetic jet lubricating oil.
Clinical Toxicology 11: 423 - 6, 1977
MONTGOMERY, M.R., WIER, G.T., ZIEVE, F.J., ANDERS, M.W.

AMA CAT. Aviation Toxicology: An Introduction to the Subject and a Handbook of Data.
Aero Medical Association Committee of Aviation Toxicology, Blakiston, 1953