Date: 202106
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Aircraft: EMB ERJ 170/175 ER/LR
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Other All
Aircraft component: Toilet Furnishing
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Flight Attendant (On Duty)
Reporter qualification: Flight Attendant Current
Human factors: Physiological - Other
Second reporter function: Flight Attendant (On Duty)
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Detector: Person Flight Attendant; Person Flight Crew
When detected: Aircraft In Service At Gate; In-flight; Pre-flight; Routine Inspection
Result: Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: Prior to boarding aircraft crew noticed pungent smell of urine. Captain advised report showed this smell was reported two times prior to this flight. Gate Agent and Supervisor noticed smell. We received spray from catering. I sprayed entire cabin. Crew hoped the smell would dissipate. While in flight; smell of urine became suffocating. When landing in ZZZ1 Maintenance came and discovered urine was leaking behind the aft galley causing odor. While inflight; I was nauseous and dizzy. Symptoms continued through the evening. I threw up; and had no appetite. When crew arrived I called OSHA spoke with [name] who advised to call Supervisor and he will call inflight nurse. After speaking with [name] I was given a number to advise the inflight nurse. After speaking with the nurse; I decided to do 'self-care' and continue with planned flight for the remainder of the trip.


Second narrative: Upon reporting to Aircraft X in ZZZ; the crew noted a smell of urine in the passenger cabin.  I figured the smell would subside once we had some airflow in the cabin as the aircraft had been sitting for a little while.  The air onboard was hot and stagnant. I started the APU soon thereafter.  In addition we requested some deodorizer to spray in the cabin. I informed the supervisor to hold boarding for a minute while we deodorized.  The crew did feel as though the smell subsided enough to board at this point.  After departure; it was apparent that the urine odor had returned and was intermittently present during the flight.  I'm surprised that I didn't hear any passenger complaints post flight. This issue was documented 2 prior times in the AFML (Airplane Log).  The corrective action block on each had stated an inspection was made and found nothing.  I initially figured that maybe a pet onboard a previous flight had caused issue and that the smell had resurfaced. Assuming the issue was resolved; we departed.  Upon arrival in ZZZ1; I notified Supervisor and Maintenance of the issue along with an entry in the AFML. I did contact the pilot on duty who in turn notified the Manager on Duty that it seemed to be more than just a cabin cleanliness issue and that at more than 1 member of the crew would be unable to continue working on the aircraft until the smell subsided as it made them feel sick.  I was told by the Chief Pilot that Maintenance would be finishing up shortly and that I would be using the aircraft on a revenue flight to a maintenance base. A maintenance inspection revealed there was a leak from the lavatory system and that it had been leaking into the insulation in the lower fuselage for some time.  At that point I was swapped to another aircraft to use.  I do understand some of the challenges in our operation and I made the initial effort to clear up the issue in a timely manner to ensure an on time departure out of ZZZ1. It is frustrating to know that this aircraft was sent back into continued service after numerous complaints; smelling of urine.


Synopsis: EMB-175 Flight Attendants reported 'pungent smell of urine' from preflight until destination resulting in physiological symptoms.