WRITTEN QUESTION E-0155/01 by Ioannis Souladakis (PSE) and Dagmar Roth-Behrendt (PSE) to the Commission. Air quality on board certain types of aircraft.
Date: 2001-01-31
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: air transport, cardiovascular disease, carriage of passengers, consumer protection, health risk, health statistics, transport company, transport regulations, transport safety

C 235 E/130

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.8.2001

Greek fishermen and to grant them also exclusive fishing rights within a zone of 12 nautical miles, or
24 nautical miles, if Parliament(cid:146)s resolution contained in report A4-0018/1999 (1), is adopted, which calls
for the establishment of a 24-mile economic exclusion zone for fishing?

(1) OJ C 153, 1.6.1999.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(16 February 2001)

Under customary international law, as codified by Article 3 of the United Nations Convention on the Law
of the Sea (Unclos), every State has the right to establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not
exceeding 12 nautical miles measured from baselines determined in accordance with the Convention. The
rule applies unchanged to Member States, since they have not transferred their sovereignty in this matter
to the Community. The Community is therefore not empowered to take action regarding the breadth of
territorial sea adopted by a Member State or regarding the consequences arising from the fact that
a Member State has decided not to change the breadth of its territorial sea.

(2001/C 235 E/136)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0151/01

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(31 January 2001)

Subject: Economy class syndrome

The so-called (cid:145)economy class syndrome(cid:146) hit the headlines recently when a young British woman died in
a London airport immediately after her flight from Sidney. According to medical studies that have been
published, at least 25 people have died over the last eight years as a result of this syndrome, which is
observed after long-haul air journeys. The causes of these deaths can in most cases be traced to the
formation of blood clots, which are believed to be caused by long periods of immobility. The UK
Government has already issued instructions to the airlines obliging them to warn passengers of the danger
of the formation of blood clots.

What information does the Commission have on this subject and what does it intend to do prevent similar
events occurring in the future?

(2001/C 235 E/137)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0155/01

by Ioannis Souladakis (PSE) and Dagmar Roth-Behrendt (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Air quality on board certain types of aircraft

(31 January 2001)

According to press reports (International Herald Tribune of Friday, 27 October 2000), complaints from
flight attendants and passengers about feeling ill on Boeing 777 aircraft have led to investigations being
undertaken by United Airlines and British Airways into the air quality on board that type of aircraft. The
Boeing 777 can fly at an altitude of 12 400 metres, higher than any other type of aircraft, and that can
result in less oxygen being available and in variations in the aircraft(cid:146)s air-conditioning system leading to
some sections of the aircraft being hotter than others and to some passengers feeling sick during the flight.
Complaints relate to shortness of breath, nosebleeds, headaches and itchy throats. Some passengers have
even fainted at the end of the flight.

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EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 235 E/131

Is the Commission aware of the investigations being carried out?

Does it intend to review air quality on board this type of aircraft, and similar types, with view to
protecting the health of the crew and of the passengers on board?

(2001/C 235 E/138)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0191/01

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(1 February 2001)

Subject: Use of organophosphates on aircraft

Is the Commission aware of concern that air crews and travellers may suffer health problems because of
the leakage into air-circulation systems on aircraft of fumes containing organophosphates, particularly
tricreslyphosphate and triorthocresylphosphate used as lubricants in aircraft engines?

Is the Commission aware of any research being carried out into these alleged problems, and does it intend
to submit proposals designed to reduce any proven or feared risks?

(2001/C 235 E/139)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0233/01

by Cristina Garc(cid:237)a-Orcoyen Tormo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(7 February 2001)

Subject: Economy class syndrome

Although reports concerning cases of what is known as (cid:145)economy class syndrome(cid:146) appear relatively
frequently in the media, the syndrome would appear to be responsible for many more deaths than is
actually reported.

The syndrome consists in the formation of blood clots in the legs or hips of passengers during flights
lasting more than two hours. Owing to the prolonged immobility, those blood clots can travel to the brain
and cause death.

Given the importance of this issue and the fact that preventive measures can be taken with a view to
reducing the health risk, does the Commission intend to take steps to ensure that airlines introduce such
measures?

(2001/C 235 E/140)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0349/01

by Garrelt Duin (PSE) to the Commission

(13 February 2001)

Subject: Danger of deep-vein thrombosis for passengers on long-haul flights ((cid:145)economy class syndrome(cid:146))

Flying as a passenger in a cramped economy-class seat is more dangerous than has hitherto been admitted.
With freedom of movement being restricted, blood may coagulate in passengers(cid:146) legs on long-haul flights,
and that can lead to the formation of potentially fatal blood clots. Especially in economy class, where the
seat pitch is generally less than 80 cm, the danger of damage to health is particularly high, hence the tag
(cid:145)economy class syndrome(cid:146). A study carried out by British medical specialists comes to the horrifying
conclusion that, in Great Britain alone, as many as 2 000 passengers die every year from (cid:145)economy class
syndrome(cid:146).