§ Mr. TylerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether the investigation by the Civil Aviation Authority into cabin air quality considered the presence of(a) mono-ortho, (b) di-ortho and (c) other toxic isomers of tricresyl phosphate other than the ortho isomer in engine oil; and whether it considered evidence for a link between repeated low-level exposure to organophosphates arid chronic neurotoxicity; [168647]
(2) whether the investigation by the Civil Aviation Authority into cabin air quality took evidence from (a) doctors and (b) other medical experts who have studied the cases or crews and passengers affected by contaminated air exposure on commercial jet aircraft; [168648]
(3) whether unions representing cabin crew members were consulted during the preparation of the recently published Civil Aviation Authority Report on cabin air quality. [168649]
§ Mr. McNultyThe investigation carried out by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) into cabin air quality focused only on substances found in air conditioning ducts of a certain type of aircraft. The study was commissioned to investigate the safety implications arising from potential incapacitation in flight crew as a result of contaminated cabin air. As such the CAA did not consider the presence of other substances and effects on low-level exposure. This was a specific piece of scientific research; therefore it was not appropriate for the CAA to seek views, either from medical experts or other stakeholders. The Aviation Health Unit is currently considering the extent to which further research should be commissioned into the presence in the cabin air of organophosphates and their effect on passengers and crew