How the Smoking Ban on Planes Hurt Passenger Health While Boosting Airline Profits

[JohnS]

How the Smoking Ban on Planes Hurt Passenger Health While Boosting Airline Profits

Date: October 2024,  Author: Usman Dawood

The smoking ban on planes has been said to have increased revenue for airlines; however, it has simultaneously worsened the air quality for passengers. While this may seem counterintuitive at first, research done by the BBC QI team has highlighted some surprising health implications for travelers due to this ban.

Over 20 years ago, when Stephen Fry was hosting the QI show, the topic of airplanes and the smoking ban was raised. The question posed was, “Was it a good idea for airlines to ban smoking?” Initially, one might instinctively answer yes, thinking of the benefits of a smoke-free cabin. But Fry explained how, while the ban has been financially advantageous for airlines, it has proven to be quite detrimental for passengers.

When smoking was allowed on flights, the aircraft had to replace the air in the cabin every three minutes. As a result, the air inside the cabin was relatively fresh due to frequent replacement. However, since the smoking ban, airlines have significantly reduced how often they replace the air, which has had unintended consequences. Not only are there now more pathogens circulating in the cabin, but the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) has also increased.

High levels of CO2 can lead to various health issues, including headaches, dizziness, nausea, confusion, and even loss of consciousness. Alarmingly, since the smoking ban, there has been a notable increase in incidents of air rage, which many attribute to the reduced air quality inside plane cabins. The presence of stale air can lead to higher levels of irritability and discomfort among passengers.

Additionally, by reducing how often they refresh the cabin air, airlines can save around 6% on their fuel costs. Since there’s no longer any smoke, passengers assume the air is clean, although that’s not the case. This cost-saving measure allows airlines to boost their profits but at the expense of passenger health. Despite the age of this information, it seems that airlines continue to prioritize cost savings over cabin air quality. As a result, travelers are left with lower-quality air, often without realizing the potential impact on their health.

Source: https://www.cigarinspector.com/cigar-library/how-the-smoking-ban-on-planes-hurt-passenger-health-while-boosting-airline-profits/

[SirVantes]

How the Ban on Spitting into Coffee Makers Increases Corporate Profits While Hurting Employees' Health

The ban on spitting into office coffeemakers is now ubiquitous. What is less known is its adverse effects on employees' health. Before the ban was in place, companies were forced to rebrew coffee in the communal pantry much more often, on the assumption that, even though only a minority of employees spit into the coffee makers, it was something that people still expected to happen. After it was banned, the coffee was not rebrewed until the dispenser was empty. This saved coffee, and water, and electricity, and boosted corporate profits. However, the coffee was left to stew for hours between brews. The resulting coffee was stale and bitter, and contained more carcinogenic compounds. This may (and therefore, must) have adverse effects on employees' health and well-being. It is surprising that corporations have not reversed the spitting ban.

Source: Phlegmfetish.com

[jhalischuk]

18 hours ago, SirVantes said:

How the Ban on Spitting into Coffee Makers Increases Corporate Profits While Hurting Employees' Health

The ban on spitting into office coffeemakers is now ubiquitous. What is less known is its adverse effects on employees' health. Before the ban was in place, companies were forced to rebrew coffee in the communal pantry much more often, on the assumption that, even though only a minority of employees spit into the coffee makers, it was something that people still expected to happen. After it was banned, the coffee was not rebrewed until the dispenser was empty. This saved coffee, and water, and electricity, and boosted corporate profits. However, the coffee was left to stew for hours between brews. The resulting coffee was stale and bitter, and contained more carcinogenic compounds. This may (and therefore, must) have adverse effects on employees' health and well-being. It is surprising that corporations have not reversed the spitting ban.

Source: Phlegmfetish.com

This is so good lol