An A320 flight crew returned to departure airport when a strong odor was noticed in the cabin.

Attributes
ACN	768487
Time
Date	200801
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 18000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Route In Use	departure sid : n/s
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 21000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	768487
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 1800
ASRS Report	768242
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : landed as precaution other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

An odor was present on the ground but thought it was from preceding aircraft. After takeoff the odor became stronger and flight attendants reported it was very strong in mid-cabin. Decision was made to return to ZZZ. Oxygen masks were used and the smoke cockpit cabin qrc was read. The first officer read and accomplished the procedures and I flew the aircraft and talked to ATC. Once the #1 pack was turned off the odor was reduced and I elected not to declare an emergency. After landing we called to have medics meet us because 2 passenger complained of light-headedness.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN A320 FLT CREW RETURNED TO DEP ARPT WHEN A STRONG ODOR WAS NOTICED IN THE CABIN.

Narrative: AN ODOR WAS PRESENT ON THE GND BUT THOUGHT IT WAS FROM PRECEDING ACFT. AFTER TKOF THE ODOR BECAME STRONGER AND FLT ATTENDANTS RPTED IT WAS VERY STRONG IN MID-CABIN. DECISION WAS MADE TO RETURN TO ZZZ. OXYGEN MASKS WERE USED AND THE SMOKE COCKPIT CABIN QRC WAS READ. THE FO READ AND ACCOMPLISHED THE PROCS AND I FLEW THE ACFT AND TALKED TO ATC. ONCE THE #1 PACK WAS TURNED OFF THE ODOR WAS REDUCED AND I ELECTED NOT TO DECLARE AN EMER. AFTER LNDG WE CALLED TO HAVE MEDICS MEET US BECAUSE 2 PAX COMPLAINED OF LIGHT-HEADEDNESS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.