" Fume Events in Air Flights: Consequences on Cabin Air Quality and on Aircrews Health of a French Fleet of Aircraft"

NCT06270095 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: C21-57
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 357
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The subject of the study focuses on commercial aircraft's cabins air quality, under conditions of both fume events and non-fume events. It also delves into the immediate and delayed repercussions of these events on the health of aviation crew members. The expological facet of this study is directed at the detection and quantification of organophosphorus compounds originating from engine oils. The epidemiological facet is geared towards the identification of potential neurological consequences.

Conditions

Neurologic Symptoms; Neurologic Disorder

Keywords

Fume events; Aircrew; Air quality; Organophosphorus compounds; Occupational exposure

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (6)

• Neurocognitive self-assessment tests on digital tablet - CANTAB test battery: Paired Associates Learning

  Boxes are displayed on the screen and are "opened" in a randomised order. One or more of them will contain a pattern. The patterns are then displayed in the middle of the screen, one at a time and the participant must select the box in which the pattern was originally located.

  Inclusion and month 3

• Neurocognitive self-assessment tests on digital tablet - CANTAB test battery: Rapid Visual Information Processing

  A white box is shown in the centre of the screen, inside which digits from 2 to 9 appear in a pseudo-random order, at the rate of 100 digits per minute. Participants are requested to detect target sequences of digits. When the participant sees the target sequence they must respond as quickly as possible.

  Inclusion and month 3

• Neurocognitive self-assessment tests on digital tablet - CANTAB test battery: One Touch Stockings of Cambridge

  The participant is shown two displays containing three coloured balls. The displays are presented in such a way that they can be easily perceived as stacks of coloured balls held in stockings or socks suspended from a beam. This arrangement makes the 3-D concepts involved apparent to the participant and fits with the verbal instructions.

  Inclusion and month 3

• Neurosensitive test to explore superficial and deep sensitivity deficits in peripheral neuropathies

  Neurosensitive test performed by the doctor during the medical consultation using the Incat Sensory Sum Score (total score: 0-20 with 0: normal sensitivity and 20: very severe sensitivity deficit; each part of the body is graduated from 0: normal sensitivity to 4: very severe sensitivity deficit).

  At month 3

• Neuromuscular test to evaluate muscle strength assessment

  Neuromuscular test performed by the doctor during the medical consultation using the Medical Research Council questionnaire (total score: 0-60 with 0:.complete tetraplegia and 60: normal muscle strength; each muscular group to a score ranging 0: no visible contraction and 5: normal muscle strength).

  At month 3

• Symptoms experienced during the flight or within 72 hours after the flight, duration of symptoms, symptoms experienced previously outside the flight

  Collect of symptoms by self-administered questionnaire on professional electronic tablet

  Inclusion and month 3

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Characteristics of plane and fume event and possible causes of fume event

  Inclusion

• Measurement of organophosphorus and carbon monoxide in cabin air using an air sampler and a piston syringe.

  Inclusion

Study Arms (2)

Exposed

Aircrew exposed to a fume event

Diagnostic Test: Neurocognitive, neuromuscular and neurosensitive tests.

Non-exposed

Aircrew not exposed to a fume event but present on a control flight

Diagnostic Test: Neurocognitive, neuromuscular and neurosensitive tests.

Interventions

Neurocognitive, neuromuscular and neurosensitive tests. DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

At T0, the subject realizes a neurocognive test and an self-assessment of health symptoms autonomously on its professional digital tablet. They also realizes two self questionnaires on their state of fatigue (Samn-Perelli Fatigue Scale) and anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale). At T0 + 3 months, the subject follows a standardized medical examination carried out by a physician, assessing neuromuscular score using the Medical Research Council questionnaire and assessing neurosensitivity score using the Incat Sensory Sum Score. If necessary, the DN4 questionnaire for neuropathic pain is used. The same neurocognitive tests than T0, and Samn-Perelli Fatigue Scale and Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale are also repeated.

Exposed; Non-exposed

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 67 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Healthy aircrew population of a French airline exposed with (exposed) and whithout (non-exposed) fume events.

You may qualify if:

• be of legal age (18 years)
• have signed the consent form

You may not qualify if:

• be pregnant
• be over 67 years of age

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, France: lead
• Université Paris Cité: collaborator
• National Agency for Sanitary Safety of the Food of the Environment and Labor: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Air France DP.ZM Service de Santé au travail de Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle

Roissy CDG, 95700, France

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Lynda BENSEFA-COLAS

  National Institute of Health and Medical Research

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER GOV
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 27, 2023
• First Posted: February 21, 2024
• Study Start: April 4, 2024
• Primary Completion: August 4, 2025
• Study Completion: February 4, 2026
• Last Updated: April 13, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

FR (1)