WRITTEN QUESTION E-1800/03 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission. SARS and airline air recycling.
Date: 2003-05-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: air conditioning, aircraft, disease prevention, epidemiology, public health, respiratory disease, technical regulations

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/373

(2004/C 88 E/0378)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1776/03

by Claude Moraes (PSE) to the Commission

(28 May 2003)

Subject: Child asthma and allergic diseases

A recent World Health Organisation Report has indicated that the number of European cases of child
asthma and allergic diseases doubled between the 1970s and 1990s.

Does the Commission have its own analysis of the causes and does it include bad air quality and the
impact of synthetic chemicals in water and food?

What is the Commission’s view on why in at least two EU countries (cid:1) the UK and Italy (cid:1) child asthma
and allergic diseases are now ‘easing’, according to the WHO?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(19 June 2003)

Under the Action Programme on pollution-related diseases (1) in the context of the framework for action in
the field of Public Health (1999/2001), the Commission funded several projects on asthma and respiratory
allergies prevention. The list and the summary of these projects can be found on our web site at the
following address: (http://europa.eu.int/comm/health).

According to numerous scientific studies, the origin of asthma and allergic diseases is multi-factorial and
therefore highly difficult to tackle.

The Commission does not have any particular information on a decrease of the incidence of asthma and
allergies in Italy and United Kingdom.

The reduction of the number of people affected by such diseases is one of the priorities of the new Public
Health Programme adopted in 23 September 2002 (2).
In addition, asthma and respiratory allergies
prevention is also considered as a priority in the Commission Communication ‘A European Environment
and Health Strategy’ adopted on 11 June 2003, which can be found on our web site at the following
address: (http://europa.eu.int/comm/press room/presspacks/health/pp health en.htm).

(1) Decision No 1296/1999/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 1999 adopting a programme of
Community action on pollution-related diseases in the context of the framework for action in the field of public
health (1999 to 2001), OJ L 155, 22.6.1999.

(2) Decision No 1786/2002/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 23 September 2002 adopting a programme of
Community action in the field of public health (2003-2008) (cid:1) Commission Statements, OJ L 271, 9.10.2002.

(2004/C 88 E/0379)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1800/03

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(28 May 2003)

Subject: SARS and airline air recycling

What regulations apply to airlines operating in the EU concerning high efficiency particulate air (HEPA)
filters? How often are such filters changed? How quickly does their efficiency deteriorate with use? Why do
passengers have to breathe recycled air at all? What is the range of ventilation allowed (i.e. the number of
minutes before air is fully changed in the cabin)? Once suspect cases of passengers are found, what
procedure is in place to prevent other passengers from being infected by the same aircraft? Is the
Commission satisfied that these procedures are now adequate to the risks involved?

C 88 E/374

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(15 July 2003)

All aircraft designed after 1985 have standard high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters fitted in the
recirculation system. HEPA filters are highly efficient in removing dust and airborne contaminants such as
droplets, bacteria and large microbes. The normal life of such filters is one C-Check, i.e. between 12 and
18 months of operation. Efficiency will not deteriorate during service provided that elements are changed
at the required intervals.

During flight, fresh air is introduced into the cabin continuously. Depending on the type of aircraft, the
entire cabin air volume is exchanged every two minutes. Air recirculated helps reduce fuel consumption
related to the air conditioning system. Measures carried out by European aircraft producers demonstrate
that on the ground, recirculated air is cleaner than outside air.

The Network for the Epidemiological Surveillance and Control of Communicable Diseases in the
Community endorsed the technical guidance document prepared by the EU Expert Group on SARS
‘Recommendation by the European Community for airlines, flight personnel and ground medical personnel
for measures to be taken before and during flights from countries with local transmission of SARS’. The
document reports recommendations on measures and procedures to be undertaken in case of SARS-
suspect cases identified on board.

These guidelines include recommendations concerning action to be taken by flight attendants should a
passenger show symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath, or if he/she is obviously ill. The
passenger should be asked to wear a surgical mask, and people serving him/her should wear a FFP2/3
mask. If possible, the passenger should be seated separately, i.e. as far as possible from other passengers. If
the passenger is very symptomatic, e.g. has a severe cough, at least passengers within two-three meters
(approximately two rows) of the ill passenger, as well as the entire crew, should use a mask.

They also recommend that airlines should ensure that information material be distributed to all passengers
informing them of potential risks. Passengers sitting within two meters of the ill passenger, and the crew,
should also receive a registration card (if they have not completed one at the time of departure) and an
information sheet ‘Important health information for passengers concerning possible contact with the
severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)’. It is also recommended that the airline should collect the
registration cards and keep them available for the health authority for 14 days after landing.

Further information concerning measures to be undertaken in this situations are available on Europa web
site at: (http://europa.eu.int/comm/health/ph_threats/com/sars/keydo_sars_en.htm).

The Commission is discussing with Member States, the international air transport organisations and the
airport authorities on how to take forward these recommendations.

As reported by World Health Organisation (WHO), the risk of transmission of SARS on aircraft is very
low. To date, symptomatic probable SARS cases on four flights have been associated with possible
transmission on board. Two of these flights preceded WHO’s 15 March 2003 emergency travel advice.
Since the introduction of exit screening on 23 March 2003, no further cases of SARS in-flight have been
documented.