Human-Biomonitoring nach'Fume and Smell Events'' in Verkehrsflugzeugen - Eine Ubersichts-arbeit zum aktuellen Zwischenstand

摘要

"Fume and Smell Events" are incidents in aircrafts which come along with odor development or visible fumes in aircraft cabin or cockpit. After those events air crews report a heterogeneous and complex set of health effects including severe short- and long-term ill-health effects. Particularly two classes of chemicals with neurotoxic modes of action are currently discussed to be possibly responsible for reported health effects.1. Organophosphorous compounds incl. tricresyl phosphates originating from additives in turbine and hydraulic oils or from flame retar-dants can contaminate cabin air either by the bleed air system or by fumigation from flame-protected components.2. Volatile organic compounds (VOC) incl. neurotoxic n-hexane or toluene from in most cases so far unknown origin.According to the state of knowledge in biomonitoring aircrews are exposed to some higher extent to particular organophosphorous compounds than the general population but less exposed than aircraft technicians with contact to hydraulic and turbine oils. Neurotoxic ortho isomers of tricresyl phosphates have not been found in body fluids of technicians, air crews or the general population. The only sparse biomonitoring data on exposure of air crews to VOC hint to an existing, but rather small burden, particularly with neurotoxic VOC.Comparing biomonitoring data with current threshold limit values reveal that neither organophosphorous compounds nor neurotoxic VOC can be responsible for reported health effects.