Flight attendant report, DC10, sfo-hnl, lavatory chemicals caused allergic reaction to the reporter.

Attributes
ACN	454190
Time
Date	199910
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sfo.airport
State Reference	CA
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-10 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level ground : preflight ground : pushback ground : parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight attendant : on duty
Qualification	flight attendant : currently qualified flight attendant aircraft qualified on : 4
Experience	flight attendant time airline total : 27 flight attendant time total : 27 flight attendant time type : 100
ASRS Report	454190
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight attendant : on duty oversight : flight attendant in charge
Qualification	flight attendant : currently qualified
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly
Independent Detector	other other : cab1
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	other Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Company
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

Respiratory reaction to chemicals used in lavatories. Prior to takeoff, a strong chemical smell was coming from lavatory near entry door. My throat became itchy, and I began sneezing and my eyes began to water. I became quite congested throughout the flight and continued sneezing on and off during the flight -- especially when I was near the lavatories in the front and aft of the aircraft. I did take a decongestant tablet that was helpful. My trip that day required that I work flight X sfo-hnl and return flight Y hnl-sfo returning at XB15. The symptoms of a respiratory reaction from lavatory chemicals remained all day. The following day, my symptoms were very much improved.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT ATTENDANT RPT, DC10, SFO-HNL, LAVATORY CHEMICALS CAUSED ALLERGIC REACTION TO THE RPTR.

Narrative: RESPIRATORY REACTION TO CHEMICALS USED IN LAVATORIES. PRIOR TO TKOF, A STRONG CHEMICAL SMELL WAS COMING FROM LAVATORY NEAR ENTRY DOOR. MY THROAT BECAME ITCHY, AND I BEGAN SNEEZING AND MY EYES BEGAN TO WATER. I BECAME QUITE CONGESTED THROUGHOUT THE FLT AND CONTINUED SNEEZING ON AND OFF DURING THE FLT -- ESPECIALLY WHEN I WAS NEAR THE LAVATORIES IN THE FRONT AND AFT OF THE ACFT. I DID TAKE A DECONGESTANT TABLET THAT WAS HELPFUL. MY TRIP THAT DAY REQUIRED THAT I WORK FLT X SFO-HNL AND RETURN FLT Y HNL-SFO RETURNING AT XB15. THE SYMPTOMS OF A RESPIRATORY REACTION FROM LAVATORY CHEMICALS REMAINED ALL DAY. THE FOLLOWING DAY, MY SYMPTOMS WERE VERY MUCH IMPROVED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.