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“UNFILTERED BREATHED IN – The Truth about Aerotoxic Syndrome” is an investigative documentary film by the German journalist, author and filmmaker Tim van Beveren from Berlin. It deals with the technical, medical, social and political backgrounds of aerotoxic syndrome as a critical and controversial topic in today’s aviation. A special focus is given to the analysis and scientific results of the forensic-pathological research conducted on the body of the British pilot Richard M. Westgate († 12.12.2012).

Synopsis
The film substantiates how the problem of contaminated cabin air aboard aircraft and the resulting aerotoxic syndrome among affected persons has been sustainably trivialized by the aviation industry and its lobbying efforts upon politicians for many decades.

Research and production
Tim van Beveren has been researching the topic of contaminated cabin air since early 2008. He authored and edited many television programs and print articles about the issue and was one of the six experts testifying in a non-public hearing in the German Parliament in October 2011. For more than 20 years he has been recognized as a designated and critical aviation expert.

His film features among world renown scientists such as the discoverers of aerotoxic syndrome, the Australian toxicologist Professor Chris Winder (†2014) and the French forensic-expert Dr Jean Christophe Balouet, the Canadian toxicologist Professor Christiaan van Netten, the German toxicologist Professor Dr Dietrich Henschler (†2014), British Professor Dr Jeremy Ramsden (formerly with Cranfield University UK and later head of the Westgate Research Team), the neuroscientist Professor Dr Mohamed B. Abou-Donia (Duke University N.C., USA), Dr Frank van de Goot (Dutch forensic- pathologist), many international experts on the subject, such as Dr Michel Mulder (physician, aeromedical examiner and pilot), British attorney Frank Cannon (Glasgow – lawyer to late Richard Westgate), Australian Senator Rev. John Woodley (chairman of the Australian Senate Inquiry 1999-2000), the British aviation expert and editor David Learmount and Cpt. Jörg Handwerg (spokesperson and board member of the German Airline Pilot Association “Vereinigung Cockpit”, VC) as well as affected passengers and crew members.

Technical-aeronautical background
The film explains that already back in the late 1940’s fully synthetic lubricants were developed and used for military jet engines. These lubricants contained toxic additives which were causing health problems among military jet pilots already in the early 1950’s and which were identified by the US Aerospace Medical Association as a threat for flight safety. This was related to the fact that military jet aircraft were introduced into service in which the breathing air for the cockpit was directly bled off from the turbine engines (bleed-air). Thereby oil-fumes entered into the air supply. With the introduction of the Rolls-Royce jet engine powered Sud-Aviation Caravelle in the late 1950’s this technology was introduced also for civil transport aircraft. Until that time other civil jet-powered aircraft such as the McDonnell-Douglas DC 8 and some versions of the Boeing 707 were using the ram-air technology to generate breathing air and pressurisation for the cabin. With ram-air technology the outside air enters through exterior inlets at the fuselage, becomes compressed and is directed into the cabin. The Canadian toxicologist Professor Dr Christiaan van Netten explains that at this point in time it has been overlooked to review the criteria for the certification and use of aviation lubricants in regards to their potential hazards for flight crew and passengers and to adopt these accordingly.

By means of concrete events like the incident involving an Airbus A319 of Germanwings in December 2010 while approaching Cologne, and the as an accident categorized event on board of a Boeing 757 belonging to Condor (subsidiary of British company Thomas Cook) as of March 2013 in Las Palmas , , the film questions the intrinsic role of the German Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority, the BFU. The film also features the British aeronautical engineer Graeme Davidson who has been a long time employee with the engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce and the aircraft manufacturer British Aerospace. He elaborately explains why all jet engines leak on a regular basis and sets up the thesis that with the introduction of longer maintenance intervals in the 1990’s the problem has been exacerbated, as the engines have to be completely disassembled in order to exchange the oil seals inside the engine core.

Medical-scientific analysis
Van Beveren and his film crew also extensively followed the research on the remains of British Airways pilot Richard Mark Westgate. Westgate was found dead in his hotel room in a suburb of Amsterdam on 12.12.2012. Since Spring 2012 he had been staying in the Netherlands for medical treatment after he became convinced that the severe neurological symptoms and pain, he was suffering, were caused by contaminated cabin air and the aerotoxic syndrome. Already prior to his death he has donated his body to science in order to research the phenomenon. The results of this two year long medical-forensic analysis on retained samples from his brain, nerves and heart muscle were published in a scientific case study, authored by the participating scientists and medical experts, at the end of July 2014. Especially striking were findings pointing to the die-back of vital cells in these organs. According to the scientists involved this was caused by long-term-low-level intoxication with small quantities of organophosphates (such as are used exclusively in aircraft lubricants).

These findings caused HM Coroner, Mr Stanhope Payne, who is in charge of the Westgate Investigation and Inquest, to notify Westgate’s former employer as well as the British Civil Aviation Authority about his concerns and calls for remedy. According to Mr Payne there is a potential risk of future deaths, especially due to failures of affected pilots.

Political backgrounds
The film shows numerous internal documents, which prove that aircraft manufacturers, airlines and their lobby organizations are well aware of the problem and that politicians and the public have been deceived for more that a decade about its extent. This applies especially to problems involving the BAe 146 aircraft as well as the Boeing 757 aircraft equipped with Rolls-Royce RB 211 engines. The film reports and proves also a questionable “closeness” between airlines (here: Condor) and Government Authorities (here the German Bundesstelle für Flugunfalluntersuchung (BFU)). The later is implied in protocols and minutes dealing with the accident of a Condor Boeing 757 in Las Palmas, which had been leaked to the journalist. They also demonstrate how the media reporting about the incident was “spun” by the pr department of the company Condor.

Also the former chairman of an Australian Senate Inquiry (1999-2000), former Senator John Woodley is interviewed in detail. Documents from within a now defunct airline that were leaked to the Australian Senate only in 2007 prove a secret agreement and payments made between the airline and the British aircraft manufacturer British Aerospace. A result of the Senate Inquiry held as long ago as 2000 was that Senators of all political parties concluded that aerotoxic syndrome is a real disease.

Solutions
Finally it also shows existing solutions to fix the problems. This applies especially for the Boeing 787 (Dreamliner) which was introduced into service in 2011 and in which the cabin pressurisation and breathing air is produced without bleed air technology which eliminates bleed air technology, identified as causal for cabin air contamination. It is also highlighted that filter systems are already approved by the authorities and in use e.g. within the Boeing 757 fleet of freight carrier DHL and that the Bavarian company has developed a successfully tested prototype of an early warning sensor.

Release & Premiers
The world premiere of the original English language version took place on July, 15th 2015 at the Babylon Cinema in Berlin-Centre. It was followed by a more than one-hour lasting discussion with politicians, union representatives and experts that was recorded and published on YouTube. On October 11th 2015 a 116 minute long German language version was first shown at the Metropolis Movie Theatre at Hamburg. The release in the United Kingdom is set for January 29th, 2016 at Glasgow, Scotland.

Awards
On October 12th 2015 the film was awarded “best documentary feature film” at the 2015 Great Lakes International Film Festival.