Just in case you thought it was safe to fly!

Apr 27 2005

Just in case you were not already too scared to fly, a study by a team at Belfast University and Hospital now tells us that most air passengers are risking their health flying by being starved of oxygen.

The team found that oxygen levels in the blood dropped so low in 54% of passengers that they would need extra supplies. In the 84 passengers studied oxygen levels dropped on average by 4%. Oxygen levels on the ground averaged 97%, but once their plane was in the air they fell to an average 93%.

The UK air regulator said people with heart and lung problems should consult their doctor before flying but healthy people need not be concerned.

Doctors at some hospitals would give patients with blood levels below 94% extra oxygen. In the study anaesthetists took oxygen levels from 55 passengers on long-haul flights lasting more than two hours, with the remaining on short-haul flights and found the measurements were similar for both groups, which were made up of people aged between one and 78 years old.

The researchers say the drop in oxygen levels could increase the chance of breathing difficulties, headaches and angina attacks for those who suffered from them.

Dr Susan Humphreys, lead researcher and an anaesthetic specialist registrar at the hospital, says they believe the falling oxygen levels, together with factors such as dehydration, immobility and low humidity, could contribute to illness during and after flights and this has become a greater problem in recent years as modern aeroplanes are able to cruise at much higher altitudes.

But a spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority, the UK air regulator, said they have always known oxygen levels fall when a plane is flying and healthy passengers need not worry as the oxygen levels would not be harmful to them, and might only affect people with lung and heart problems and advise people to consult their doctor before flying.

The study comes after House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee and Department of Transport reports called for more research to be carried out on the health impact of flying.