Study Says Ozone Reacts With Deodorant, Skin To Form Vexing Chemicals

It appears Jean-Paul Sartre was onto something, when he uttered his famous line "Hell is other people"... especially when it comes to commercial airline travel.

That's not an observation on the sorry state of the airlines from a customer relations standpoint... but rather the findings of a study conducted by one Charles J. Weschler, of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.

The report says the diverse (and occasionally putrid -- Ed.) combination of chemicals found in airliner cabins may be responsible for several of the ailments passengers complain about, according to the New York Times.

Furthermore, the study adds... passengers only have themselves to blame.

Don't be too quick to throw your stale dinner roll at the guy wearing too much cologne, though... because chances are, your own clothing is also adding to the list of irritants found in airline cabins.

The problem lies in the elevated levels of ozone found in air taken in by planes when traveling at high altitudes. That ozone reacts with the chemicals found in deodorants, perfumes, cigarette smoke on clothes, et al -- as well as a person's own skin, hair and clothing -- to form aldehydes, and other potentially irritating compounds.

Weschler and his colleagues conducted their tests using a rebuilt section of cabin from a Boeing 767, set within a climate-control chamber. They found that during "flights" with 16 passengers, and with ozone levels typical of higher altitudes, the formation of volatile byproducts such as acetone and acetic acid increased.

The elevated ozone levels aren't very high, at around 70 parts per billion, according to the NYT. The phenomenon also affects people traveling aboard smaller planes more so than on larger airliners -- bigger planes usually have ozone scrubbers -- and the ozone also reacts with compounds used in the seats and carpeting.

Still, more than half the resulting byproducts stemmed from reactions with passengers' clothing, and natural oils found on skin and hair, according to the study published in Environmental Science and Technology.

Over time, levels of those volatile ozone-related chemicals can build up and create compounds that could cause health problems, the researchers add.

And let's face it... coming from New Jersey, those researchers probably know a thing or two about irritating chemicals... especially if they've ever driven the Jersey Turnpike...

FMI: www.umdnj.edu