http://areco.org/health.htm#airpollution

Health Issues

What are our children breathing... and how will it affect their health now and in the future?

• Did you ever wonder what blows out of a jet airplane?
• What symptoms can occur with prolonged exposure to these chemicals?
• Have there been studies on cancer rates near airports?
  

For more health information, read the article Airports: Deadly Neighbors.

Did you ever wonder what blows out of a jet airplane?
Here is what you'll find in the air around an airport: 

Freon 11, Freon 12, Methyl Bromide, Dichloromethane, cis-l,2-Dichloroethylene, 1,1,1-Trichloroethane, Carbon Tetrachloride, Benzene, Trichloroethylene, Toluene, Tetrachloroethene, Ethylbenzene, m,p-Xylene, o-Xylene, Styrene, 1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene, 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, o-Dichlorobenzene, Formaldehyde, Acetaldehyde, Acrolein, Acetone, Propinaldehyde, Crotonaldehyde, Isobutylaldehyde, Methyl Ethyl Ketone, Benzaldehyde, Veraldehyde, Hexanaldehyde, Ethyl Alcohol, Acetone, Isopropyl Alcohol, Methyl Ethyl Ketone, Butane, Isopentane, Pentane, Hexane, Butyl Alcohol, Methyl Isobutyl Ketone, n,n-Dimethyl Acetamide, Dimethyl Disulfide, m-Cresol, 4-Ethyl Toulene, n-Heptaldehyde, Octanal, 1,4-Dioxane, Methyl Phenyl Ketone, Vinyl Acetate, Heptane, Phenol, Octane , Anthracene, Dimethylnapthalene(isomers), Flouranthene, 1-methylnaphthalene, 2-methylnaphthalene, Naphthalene, Phenanthrene, Pyrene , Benzo(a)pyrene, 1-nitropyrene, 1,8-dinitropyrene , 1,3-Butadiene , sulfites, nitrites, nitrogen oxide, nitrogen monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, nitrogen trioxide, nitric acid, sulfur oxides, sulfur dioxide, sulfuric acid, urea, ammonia, carbon monoxide, ozone, particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5)

Back to top

What symptoms can occur with prolonged exposure to these chemicals? 

Back to top

Have there been studies on cancer rates near airports?

• A 1993 US-EPA study of Midway Airport exhibited massive amounts of known carcinogens coming from aircraft engines in tons-per-year. It also predicted that it produced more than 400 times the allowable cancer risks to the population than that of a federal Superfnd Cleanup site (Toxic Waste Dump), as a direct result of exposure to these airport toxins. CLICK HERE to view selected pages from the report "EPA Estimation and Evaluation of Cancer Risks Attributed to Air Pollution in Southwest Chicago."
  
• The National Cancer Institute states that studies show that some types of brain tumors are more frequent among workers in certain types of industries including oil refining and embalmers. Major health concerns of aircraft exhaust are petroleum and formaldehyde.
  
• The Federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry states that volatile organic compounds in jet exhaust, precisely 1,3-butadiene and benzene pose increased health risks in the exposed populace for leukemia and thyroid cancer.
  
• Data from the State of Washington Department of Health regarding Seattle-Tacoma Airport shows that cancer rates are not only are up near the airport, but increase the closer you get to it.
  
• A second Washington state study of another airport, Boeing Field, by the Seattle-King County Department of Health shows that cancer rates are up 31% and the rate of respiratory disease among children is more than twice that of the county overall.
  

Back to top

last upgrade 23 Oct 1999

This page is maintained by

The Rivermouth Action Group Inc

activist@rag.org.au

as a community service.