Comments on: Brown Bag Campaign | Petition Against Sick Aircraft or Aerotoxic Syndrome | Political Lobbying http://www.holidaytravelwatch.net/campaigns/brown-bag-campaign/ Providing holiday help and advice to the general public Sat, 04 Jul 2009 23:42:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: crstanding http://www.holidaytravelwatch.net/campaigns/brown-bag-campaign/#comment-5 crstanding Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:44:12 +0000 http://www.holidaytravelwatch.net/campaigns/brown-bag-campaign/#comment-5 Yes, maybe your title is too subtle, but it does demonstrate to me the dangerous effects of 'bad science'. The Countess of Mar discredited these so-called scientists of the COT. She said, "These expert committees are often required to make decisions upon incomplete evidence, so the only verdict they can give is that of "not proven". This cannot be an impartial response if the resources allocated to field and clinical investigations are inadequate and the evaluators do not qualify their findings accordingly. They rely upon what may be called "constructive ignorance" by being content to rule on the evidence which is before them and avoid a search for information that may lead them to a different decision. That is not being impartial. Of course, there is also an inherent bias in that human nature decrees that arbiters tend to favour their own judgment and resist the opposite view. The Cairns Committee in its review of the authority which both licensed aircraft as airworthy and was responsible for investigating aircraft accidents coined the phrase "intellectual corruption"—[Official Report, 24/6/97; col. 1558–9.] The Cairns Committee reported in, I think, 1966. Shopenhauer, the philosopher, is attributed with the belief that most ideas go through three phases: first they are laughed at; secondly they are violently attacked; and thirdly they are accepted as common sense. In view of the defences being put up by the Minister and his advisors, I think we may just about have reached the second stage. Dr Ruge, a member of the AHWG, in referring to the UK Government and CAA-initiated and sponsored research paper Cabin Air Quality published in 2004, stated: "The results did not suggest that there is a health risk for passengers, including infants, and crew". A look at that paper reveals that: "The research described in this report addresses the effect of cabin air contamination on the pilot's ability to safely fly and land an aircraft. The CAA decided to conduct this research following a small number of events where flight crew effectiveness was reduced, possibly due to oil products present in the cabin air. Although some references are made concerning long term health effects, the scope of this research did not attempt to determine the extent of any such risk". It makes no reference to passengers or infants. The research paper relies heavily on a BAe "Commercial—in confidence" paper by Marshman and neither paper has been peer-reviewed nor published in a scientific journal, and yet they seem to be accepted as gospel. How dare these people play fast and loose with our health! Yes, maybe your title is too subtle, but it does demonstrate to me the dangerous effects of ‘bad science’. The Countess of Mar discredited these so-called scientists of the COT. She said,

“These expert committees are often required to make decisions upon incomplete evidence, so the only verdict they can give is that of “not proven”. This cannot be an impartial response if the resources allocated to field and clinical investigations are inadequate and the evaluators do not qualify their findings accordingly. They rely upon what may be called “constructive ignorance” by being content to rule on the evidence which is before them and avoid a search for information that may lead them to a different decision. That is not being impartial.

Of course, there is also an inherent bias in that human nature decrees that arbiters tend to favour their own judgment and resist the opposite view. The Cairns Committee in its review of the authority which both licensed aircraft as airworthy and was responsible for investigating aircraft accidents coined the phrase “intellectual corruption”—[Official Report, 24/6/97; col. 1558–9.]
The Cairns Committee reported in, I think, 1966. Shopenhauer, the philosopher, is attributed with the belief that most ideas go through three phases: first they are laughed at; secondly they are violently attacked; and thirdly they are accepted as common sense. In view of the defences being put up by the Minister and his advisors, I think we may just about have reached the second stage.
Dr Ruge, a member of the AHWG, in referring to the UK Government and CAA-initiated and sponsored research paper Cabin Air Quality published in 2004, stated:

“The results did not suggest that there is a health risk for passengers, including infants, and crew”.

A look at that paper reveals that:
“The research described in this report addresses the effect of cabin air contamination on the pilot’s ability to safely fly and land an aircraft. The CAA decided to conduct this research following a small number of events where flight crew effectiveness was reduced, possibly due to oil products present in the cabin air. Although some references are made concerning long term health effects, the scope of this research did not attempt to determine the extent of any such risk”.
It makes no reference to passengers or infants. The research paper relies heavily on a BAe “Commercial—in confidence” paper by Marshman and neither paper has been peer-reviewed nor published in a scientific journal, and yet they seem to be accepted as gospel.

How dare these people play fast and loose with our health!

]]> By: Frank http://www.holidaytravelwatch.net/campaigns/brown-bag-campaign/#comment-4 Frank Fri, 25 Apr 2008 06:06:25 +0000 http://www.holidaytravelwatch.net/campaigns/brown-bag-campaign/#comment-4 Point taken crstanding. However, the point of calling this campaign, 'The Brown Bag Campaign', is to highlight the hyperventilation theory submitted by a senior scientist to the COT committee (highlighted above). It is wholly ridiculous to suggest that all air passengers, or indeed the bulk of air passengers, are suffering from some minor ailment! It is a mockery of the seriousness of this situation; the 'Brown Bag Campaign' is intended as a satirical throwback to those who would seek to reduce your condition to a minor ailment, and to those in government who go along with that opinion. Perhaps our title is too subtle? Frank Brehany - Senior Consumer Advocate - HTW Point taken crstanding. However, the point of calling this campaign, ‘The Brown Bag Campaign’, is to highlight the hyperventilation theory submitted by a senior scientist to the COT committee (highlighted above). It is wholly ridiculous to suggest that all air passengers, or indeed the bulk of air passengers, are suffering from some minor ailment! It is a mockery of the seriousness of this situation; the ‘Brown Bag Campaign’ is intended as a satirical throwback to those who would seek to reduce your condition to a minor ailment, and to those in government who go along with that opinion. Perhaps our title is too subtle? Frank Brehany - Senior Consumer Advocate - HTW

]]> By: crstanding http://www.holidaytravelwatch.net/campaigns/brown-bag-campaign/#comment-3 crstanding Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:38:15 +0000 http://www.holidaytravelwatch.net/campaigns/brown-bag-campaign/#comment-3 ...just a further point, we use 'brown bags' for hyperventilation; what we suffer in aerotoxic syndrome is lung injury; to treat this with a brown bag is not appropriate. X-rays show that my lungs are covered in scarring; I need more oxygen not less. …just a further point, we use ‘brown bags’ for hyperventilation; what we suffer in aerotoxic syndrome is lung injury; to treat this with a brown bag is not appropriate. X-rays show that my lungs are covered in scarring; I need more oxygen not less.

]]> By: crstanding http://www.holidaytravelwatch.net/campaigns/brown-bag-campaign/#comment-2 crstanding Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:08:34 +0000 http://www.holidaytravelwatch.net/campaigns/brown-bag-campaign/#comment-2 Thank you for taking action on this. The airlines have been treating passengers and crews badly for far too long. In their arrogance they deny us the right to even know when they have injured us. Thank you for taking action on this. The airlines have been treating passengers and crews badly for far too long. In their arrogance they deny us the right to even know when they have injured us.

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