Out and About -July-issue-

50 | OUT AND ABOUT COSTA BLANCA
DAWN BLYTHE
Does air quality on flights
pose a Health Risk?
How often do you ‘break out with
a cold’ a few days after flying?
In recent years aircraft
have been designed to recirculate
approximately 50% of the cabin air in
order to increase fuel efficiency.
Research now shows that contrary to
common belief the increase in people
getting colds following air travel is
not actually due to the quality of air
on board. It is more likely due to the
confined space of the aircraft.
Studies reveal that it doesn’t matter
if you are breathing recirculated air or
fresh air – if germs are present from other
passengers or crew you’re going to be
infected.
Droplets in the air (following a sneeze)
are a big cause. However direct contact
by touching other items that people
with colds have touched (trays, cups,
magazines etc.) counts even more. Touch
a cold virus germ then touch your face
and you’ve exposed yourself to a virus.
The risk of this is even greater where
there are lots of people in a confined
space such as an aircraft cabin.
In addition, increased stress levels
(often associated with travel) may lower
a person’s immunity enough to make
them more susceptible.
At the altitude at which commercial
jets fly, the air pressure does not allow
humans to breathe independently.To
overcome this, hot compressed air is