Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that adequate measures are in place to assess the toxicity of fumes entering aircraft cabins from aircraft engines; what steps he has taken to ensure the prevention of adverse effects on pilots, cabin crew and passengers caused by toxic levels of fumes; and if he will make a statement.

The Department has completed four research studies into cabin air which involved close cooperation with airlines to facilitate the research. The main study was published by Cranfield University in May 2011 and concluded there was no evidence for pollutants occurring in cabin air at levels exceeding available health and safety standards and guidelines.

The Department has also engaged with the Committee on Toxicity who considered the Department’s four published reports during 2013. The Committee concluded that there is no evidence that fume events are causing ill health in passengers or crew.