Heavy-Duty Article about Boeing Jetliner Air Safety Suit Summed-Up

A former flight attendant settled a case (an undisclosed settlement) with Boeing over what she claims to be a faulty aircraft design (there have been people speaking out about this since the 50s, but most industry experts maintain that the air people breathe while flying is completely safe). The woman, Terry Williams, claims the default has resulted in memory loss, severe headaches, and tremors that have left her unable to work.

Though rare, the passengers and crew in at least 1 in about 28,000 flights (roughly as many that operate in one day) are exposed to small amounts of harmful toxins like tricresyl phosphates (TCPs), carbon monoxide, and others that can sometimes lead to health risks.

The toxins enter the cabin's air through the plane's system of "bleeding" in air that is pumped through the jet's engine, cooled via air conditioners, and mixed with the cabin's existing air (the air in the entire cabin is replaced every two to three minutes with this outside air).

In far greater detail from msnbc, which includes a great graphic about how the air bleeding works: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44777304/ns/travel-news/