LETTER: Great concern over emissions

By The Newsroom
Published 13th Jul 2014, 07:00 BST
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So far the objections to additional flight paths have been based on the noise produced by aircraft using Gatwick Airport. This has been discussed at great length, however there are far worse consequences for anyone living under a flight path.

Jet engines emit a cocktail of potentially toxic chemicals not normally found in the atmosphere, this now includes Organophosphates (OP) originally used in DDT, a banned insecticide.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency lists OP as very highly acutely toxic to bees, wildlife, and humans. OP are added to the lubricant used in jet engines and emitted in the exhaust. OP can also find their way into the cabin air conditioning systems of aircraft causing problems for crew and passengers. This is of great concern to the airline industry and has been the subject of much research over a number of years, there is even a House of Commons committee dedicated to the subject.