Aerotoxic syndrome is a phrase coined by Chris Winder and Jean-Christophe Balouet in 2000, to describe short- and long-term ill-health effects caused by breathing contaminated airliner cabin air. Modern jetliners have an environmental control system (ECS) that manages the flow of cabin air. Outside air enters the engines and is compressed in the forward section. A portion of that compressed bleed air is used to pressurise the cabin. In instances that are becoming increasingly frequent, contaminants enter the cabin through that air-supply system. If a bearing seal fails and begins to leak, some of the engine oil can be released into the compressed air stream. Oil leaks can be detected by pungent smells, described as ‘wet dog’ or ‘smelly gym socks’, and in more serious events, fumes fill the cabin which is known as fume event.
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