LONDON (AFP) - Thousands of air passengers and flight crews are being put at risk of permanent brain damage from toxic fumes leaking into aircraft cabins, a pressure group warned Thursday.

The Global Cabin Air Quality Executive (GCAQE) said there is evidence that numerous chemicals from engine oils and lubricants get into cabin air supplies every day through air-conditioning systems.

The pressure group claims the leaks can cause nausea, breathing difficulties, dizziness, lethargy and long exposure can even lead to brain damage.

The group has called for a public inquiry to protect passengers and inform them of the health risks.

GCAQE's co-chairman Tristan Loraine said not telling passengers they were at risk of breathing contaminated air amounted to a breach of their human rights.

"International airlines continue to preside over a global scandal," he said.

"Not only are they supplying the travelling public with unfiltered engine air to breathe, known for decades to sometimes become contaminated with toxic chemicals, they don't tell the public there is a risk of exposure or when they have been exposed.

"No UK aircraft has any form of detection system fitted to warn when the air is contaminated. Each year thousands of contaminated air events go unreported."

The government has admitted that one in 2,000 flights could be affected by so-called fume events, and this year launched a major testing programme to examine the extent of the problem.

A spokesman for the Department for Transport said: "The UK government is leading the world in ground-breaking research to address concerns about cabin air and has participated in two open and transparent public hearings where all the results have been published."

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