MINISTERS are to order a scientific probe into the dangers to airline pilots and passengers of jet fumes leaking into cockpits.

The long-term health effects of breathing in fumes will be studied on 40 aircraft over the next six months and could lead to tougher safety regulations.

It comes after the Government's Committee on Toxicity (CoT) catalogued hundreds of reported incidents.

Pilots reported headaches, nausea and dizziness after exposure, some were forced to wear oxygen masks while others had to stop working. The CoT has concluded there is "sufficient concern" about the effects on pilots to warrant a full investigation.

A random study of domestic and European flights will be carried out to monitor the rates and levels of exposure. The Department for Transport is due to publish the results in September.

The move has been welcomed by the British Airline Pilots Association, (Balpa), which has campaigned to highlight the "significant flight safety issues" caused by jet fumes leaking.

A spokesman welcomed the study. Its database includes 770 contamination reports over the past 20 years, including 262 between 2001 and 2005. The BAE 146 and Boeing 757, popular charter planes in Britain and Europe, are the two aircraft types with the highest reported number of incidents but the union still believes crews are "under-reporting" incidents, while many are unaware of the effects.

One pilot suggested the problem was most acute during take off, while another BAE 146 pilot insisted there was no question about oil leaking through the oil seals and contaminating the cabin.

"It happens all the time, pilots just accept it as normal, " he said. Evidence from one low-cost airline stated between January and September 2006 there were 35 "fume events".

An engineering fault was found in a third of all incidents. The contaminant can be made up of harmful substances including Tricresyl Phosphate, a known substance that affects the brain and nervous system. A two-year study found nine serious incidents on BAE 146 models.

This included three crises where the co-pilot was incapacitated by suspected contamination.

Airlines and manufacturers insist they are not present in a strong-enough concentration to cause problems.

The Civil Aviation Authority found "no significant level of toxins" from engine oils in cabins or cockpits. The CoT report suggests "no definitive conclusions" can be drawn on safe levels with the evidence available but is understood to have recommended a further study.

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