Wednesday, July 17, 2019

What is the problem with flight attendants uniforms?

It seems that when they get new uniforms, some develop rashes, blisters, hair loss, vomiting, migraines, eye irritation, hives, and shortness of breath. The attendants have filed law suits against the manufacturers.

A research group at Harvard that studies flight attendants’ health found that there is a relationship between flight attendants’ health issues and the new uniforms they wore. The attendants are working under rather unique conditions, such as engine exhaust, long periods in recycled air, and disrupted circadian rhythms. They also wear their uniforms for long periods of time, during long flights or delays, so their exposure to chemicals in their uniforms could be greater than that of other workers, even at the same airline, who wear uniforms for a shorter time or have a different working environment. Flight attendants’ physical activity during their work can also lead to sweating, which can cause certain chemicals to leach onto the skin and cause a reaction.

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