Does Air Quality on Planes Make You Ill? 1 in 5 Passengers Believe Flights Have Made Them Sick

More than one in five plane passengers believe they have become ill because of poor air quality on board planes.

A new study found 23 per cent of people believe they have been affected by 'aerotoxic syndrome' following high-profile claims by cabin crew against airlines.

At the altitude at which commercial planes fly, humans cannot breathe independently because of the air pressure so compressed air is drawn from the plane's engines and directed into the cabin.

In June, 17 members of former and serving cabin crew staff launched legal action against British Airways over claims into the effects of "fume events" in which small fumes or smoke leak into the cabin.

The Unite union also called for a public inquiry into the issue.

Now a study by personal injury firm claims.co.uk shows many passengers believe they have also been affected by the issue.

John Quail, managing director of the firm -- which polled 2,000 adults -- said: "Media exposure of people seriously affected by so-called aerotoxicity syndrome has naturally focused on high profile cases by cabin crew against their employers."

He added: "It may become apparent that significant numbers of the general public may have been affected, too - especially business people and other regular fliers."

Figures from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) show that since 2010 they have received more than 1,300 reports of smoke or fumes inside a large passenger aircraft operated by a British airline.

Public Health England's toxicology unit has said around one in every 2,000 flights are affected by 'fume events' but the levels of contamination are 'probably' below those which would pose a risk to human health.

British Airways and the CAA both maintain there is no evidence 'aerotoxic syndrome' exists and British Airways has added it would not fly planes if it believed they posed a health risk.