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Air pollution could be making honey bees sick

Whether it’s exhaust fumes from cars or smoke from power plants, air pollution is an often invisible threat that is <a href="https://www.who.int/health-topics/air-pollution#tab=tab_1">a leading cause</a> of death worldwide. Breathing air laced with heavy metals, nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter has been linked to a range of chronic health conditions, <a href="https://theconversation.com/understanding-the-pollution-thats-hurting-our-health-25242">including</a> lung problems, heart disease, stroke and cancer. If air pollution can harm human health in so many different ways, it makes sense that other animals suffer from it too. Airborne pollutants affect all kinds of life, <a href="https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.en.27.010182.002101">even insects</a>. In highly polluted areas of Serbia, for instance, <a href="https://peerj.com/articles/5197/">researchers found</a> pollutants lingering on the bodies of European honeybees. Car exhaust fumes are known to interrupt the scent cues that attract and guide bees towards flowers, while also <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-41876-w">interfering with</a> their ability to remember scents. Now, <a href="https://www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.2009074117">a new study from India</a> has revealed how air pollution may be depleting the health of honey bees in the wild. These effects may not kill bees outright. But like humans repeatedly going to work under heavy stress or while feeling unwell, the researchers found that air pollution made bees sluggish in their daily activities and could be shortening their lives. Unhealthy bees in Bangalore India is one of the world’s <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/264662/top-producers-of-fresh-vegetables-worldwide/">largest producers</a> of fruit and vegetables. Essential to that success are pollinator species like the giant Asian honey bee. Unlike the managed European honey bee, these bees are predominantly wild and regularly resist humans and other animals eager to harvest their honey. Colonies can migrate over hundreds of kilometres within a year, pollinating a vast range of wild plants and crops across India. Researchers studied how this species was faring in the southern Indian city of Bangalore, where air pollution records have been <a href="https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/cover-story/you-think-delhi-is-polluted-bengalurus-pollution-levels-will-leave-you-breathless/articleshow/69065577.cms">reported as</a> some of the highest in the country. The giant Asian honey bees were observed and collected across four sites in the city over three years. Each had different standards of air pollution. The number of bees visiting flowers was significantly lower in the most polluted sites, possibly reducing how much plants in these places were pollinated. Bees from these sites died faster after capture, and, like houses in a dirty city, were partly covered in traces of arsenic and lead. They had arrhythmic heartbeats, fewer immune cells, and were more likely to show signs of stress. There are some caveats to consider, though. For one thing, areas with high pollution might have had fewer flowering plants, meaning bees were less likely to seek them out. Also, the researchers looked at the health of honey bees in parts of the city purely based on different levels of measured pollution. They couldn’t isolate the effect of the pollution with absolute certainty – there may have been hidden factors behind the unhealthy bees they uncovered. But, crucially, it wasn’t just bees that showed this trend. In a follow-up experiment, the study’s authors placed cages of fruit flies at the same sites. Just like the bees, the flies became coated in pollutants, died quicker where there was more air pollution, and showed higher levels of stress. The threat posed by pesticides is well known. But if air pollution is also affecting the health of a range of pollinating insects, what does that mean for ecosystems and food production? Fewer cars, more flowers Our diets would be severely limited if insects like honey bees were impaired in their pollinating duties, but the threat to entire ecosystems of losing these species is even more grave. Crop plants account for less than 0.1% of all flowering species, yet 85% of flowering plants are <a href="http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.464.6928&rep=rep1&type=pdf">pollinated by</a> bees and other species. Giant Asian honey bees like the ones in Bangalore form large, aggressive colonies that can move between urban, farmed and forest habitats. These journeys expose them to very different levels of pollution, but the colonies of most other types of wild bee species are stationary. They nest in soil, undergrowth or masonry, and individuals travel relatively short distances. The levels of pollution they’re regularly exposed to are unlikely to change very much from one day to the next, and it’s these species that are likely to suffer most if they live in towns or cities where local pollution is high. Thankfully, there are ways to fix this problem. Replacing cars with clean alternatives like electrified public transport would go a long way to reducing pollution. Creating more urban green spaces with lots of trees and other plants would help filter the air too, while providing new food sources and habitat for bees. In many parts of the UK, roadside verges have been <a href="https://theconversation.com/roadside-wildflower-meadows-are-springing-up-across-the-uk-and-theyre-helping-wildlife-in-a-big-way-120014">converted to wildflower meadows</a> in recent years. In doing so, are local authorities inadvertently attracting bees to areas we know may be harmful? We don’t know, but it’s worth pondering. From September 2020, Coventry University is launching a citizen science project with the nation’s beekeepers to map the presence of fine particulate matter in the air around colonies, to begin to unravel what’s happening to honey bees in the UK. Air pollution is likely to be one part of a complex problem. Bees are sensitive to lots of toxins, but how these interact in the wild is fiendishly difficult to disentangle. We know <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13592-014-0308-z">cocktails of pesticides</a> can cause real damage too. But what happens when bees are exposed to these at the same time as air pollution? We don’t yet know, but answers are urgently needed. Written by Barbara Smith and Mark Brown. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/air-pollution-could-be-making-honey-bees-sick-new-study-144155">The Conversation.</a>

Travel

Unbelievable! Airline offers UNLIMITED flights for $181

Malaysian long-haul carrier AirAsia X unveiled their new AirAsia Unlimited Pass which will allow anyone who purchases it for 499 MYR (AU$181) to be able to fly as much as they’d like for one year. The worldwide coronavirus outbreak has halted International travel to the ground but AirAsia X’s incredible offer has been introduced as a way to combat the downturn of business. "This is unprecedented," the airline’s Malaysia chief Benyamin Ismail said. "Travelling is still very safe as long as everyone travels responsibly and is kept updated by World Health Organisation (WHO) or respective government’s travel advice." AirAsiaX flies between Australia, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, China and India. Singapore, Bali and Jeddah, also in AirAsia X's network, are excluded from the offer. Unfortunately, the new promotion is only available to Malaysian members of AirAsia's loyalty program. The incredible AirAsia pass will last until 2 March 2021. The holder still has to pay any government taxes and fees for their flights, which must be booked at least 14 days in advance. "As the travel period spans across one full year, AirAsia Unlimited Pass holders can decide when best to travel and choose between exploring all available destinations or keep going back to the same favourite location over and over again in different seasons," Ismail said.

Travel

5 of the best air-cleaning plants according to NASA

The best plants are the ones that do double duty – and all of these purify your air of toxic chemicals. Even better, they’re easy to grow. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, our homes can have three to five times more pollutants than the outdoors. You could be living in a “sick” house and not realize it: Substances like xylene (in paint and lacquers), benzene (furniture wax, insect sprays) trichloroethylene (cleaners, adhesives), and formaldehyde (upholstery, air fresheners) – can produce symptoms like headaches, sore throats, or allergy-like breathing troubles. The NASA Clean Air Study was designed to find effective and simple ways to detox the air in the space station – and it reveals that common house plants have air purifying superpowers. 1. Boston Fern Boston ferns are native to tropical forests and swamp areas so they will thrive in low light and high humidity – they’re ideal for your bathroom. The moisture from your shower will hydrate the plant, requiring little extra care from you. Besides being a pretty and decorative addition to your bathroom, the Boston fern helps remove xylene and – the NASA study revealed – it was the top house plant for removing formaldehyde. 2. Spider plant Talk about a plant that keeps giving. It removes impurities from the air like formaldehyde and carbon monoxide. NASA’s study found that spider plants removed 95 per cent of formaldehyde from a sealed plexiglass chamber in 24 hours. Even better, the main plant sends out shoots, called “spiderettes” that flower and eventually grow into baby spider plants that you can transplant. That also helps: Research indicates that people are more relaxed and happy after caring for plants – say, for example, when they’re re-potting them. 3. Bamboo plant This plant boasts elegance and height in addition to removing harmful elements like benzene and formaldehyde. Bamboo palms also help keep indoor air moist, making it a welcome addition in dry winter months. This palm takes a bit more care: It loves bright, but not direct sunlight and needs monthly fertilising and regular misting; when it outgrows its container (every two to three years), you’ll need to re-pot it. 4. Devil’s ivy Devil’s ivy is actually quite angelic. It’s considered one of the most effective indoor air purifiers from benzene, formaldehyde and xylene. Plus, if you’re new to growing house plants, this is a great first plant to get. It’s lush, hardy and inexpensive. Another nice feature is that it can grow up to 2.5 metres long and in a variety of directions. In a hanging basket, it will trail downwards. Place it a pot and train it to climb a totem or trellis or place in a pot on a mantle or coffee table and let it grow horizontally. 5. Gerbera These colourful and cheerful daisies were mainly outdoor plants until florists started using them in arrangements. Grown indoors, they can produce flowers at any time of the year, in white, red, orange, pink and purple. The flowers usually last around four to six weeks, but even without the flowers, the gerbera or Barberton daisy has lush, dark green leaves that are effective at filtering out formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene. They are most happy with full sun and plenty of water and well-drained soil. Written by Lisa Marie Conklin. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.mydiscoveries.com.au/stories/top-spot-australians-retire-2019/">Handyman</a>.

Lifestyle

How airplane crash investigations work

The <a href="https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/ethiopian-airlines-plane-crash/index.html">fatal crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302</a> has resulted in the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/canada-grounds-boeing-737-max-8-leaving-us-as-last-major-user-of-plane/2019/03/13/25ac2414-459d-11e9-90f0-0ccfeec87a61_story.html">worldwide grounding of Boeing 737 Max aircraft</a>. Investigators are probing the crash and <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/report-on-airline-crash-that-killed-189-people-draws-few-conclusions/2018/11/27/a07b833c-f274-11e8-80d0-f7e1948d55f4_story.html">another like it that occurred less than five months earlier</a> in Indonesia. As an experienced airline pilot, aircraft accident investigator and <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=I0IMxAkAAAAJ&hl=en">professor of aviation</a>, I know that such major crash investigations are an enormous effort often involving many countries’ governments and input from dozens of industry partners. The inquiries can take months of painstaking work. They often yield important insights that improve flight safety for everyone long into the future. Here’s how an investigation generally goes. A massive collaboration The accident investigation process is laid out by the standards and recommended practices in an international agreement called <a href="https://store.icao.int/index.php/annexes/13-aircraft-accident-and-incident-investigation.html">Annex 13</a> of the <a href="https://www.icao.int/publications/pages/doc7300.aspx">Convention on International Civil Aviation</a>. That document outlines the <a href="https://www.icao.int/safety/airnavigation/aig/pages/documents.aspx">process of gathering and analyzing information</a> and drawing conclusions – including determining the causes of a crash and making safety recommendations. The government of the country where the crash occurred takes the lead in the investigation. Also involved are investigators from the countries where the aircraft is registered, where the airline’s headquarters is, where the aircraft designer is based and where the aircraft was assembled. Countries where the engines or other major aircraft components were designed and assembled and those with citizens killed or seriously injured in the crash may also take part in the investigations. The Ethiopian Airlines crash is under investigation by Ethiopian authorities, with the assistance of members of the U.S. <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/10/ethiopian-airlines-flight-302-no-survivors-in-crash-of-boeing-737.html">National Transportation Safety Board</a>. Other countries – including Kenya, France, Canada, China, Italy and the U.K., which all <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/10/world/africa/ethiopian-airlines-plane-crash-victims.html">lost several citizens in the crash</a> – may ask to be part of the process. Ethiopian investigators can seek technical advice not only from participating countries’ representatives, such as the NTSB, but also from the companies that made the plane and its engines – in this case, Boeing and CFM international, respectively. From emergency to inquiry At the beginning of the inquiry, the investigator-in-charge, usually an investigator from the lead country’s aviation safety board, coordinates with local first responders to determine what hazards may be present at the crash site, and ensures safe access for investigators to visit the wreckage. Dangerous debris could include hazardous cargo, flammable or toxic materials and gases, sharp or heavy objects and pressurized equipment. Human remains or blood from injured victims may also pose dangers of disease, meaning investigators must protect themselves against viruses, bacteria or parasites. The <a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/process/pages/default.aspx">investigators on the scene</a> take photos and videos of the wreckage and collect as much physical evidence as they can. They also conduct interviews with eyewitnesses and draw charts showing the debris field and any indications of how the aircraft hit the ground, such as the angle of impact, the distribution of debris and other details. If parts of aircraft can be salvaged, they can be moved to a secure facility such as a hangar for wreckage reassembling. This can assist in determining missing or damaged components, and gaining a fuller idea of what happened. Investigators also collect all the documents related the plane, its crew and its recent flights for forensic analysis. An early priority is locating the crucial evidence in what are often called the plane’s “black boxes.” There are two kinds. The flight data recorders keep track of flight parameters such altitude, heading, instrument readings, power settings and flight control inputs. The cockpit voice recorders store all communications with the aircraft, including from air traffic controllers, and record any conversations among cockpit occupants and other audible cockpit sounds for the two hours leading up to the crash. All that information lets analysts reconstruct, and even create video simulations of, the last moments of the plane’s flight. If either of those devices is damaged, authorities may ask the aircraft’s manufacturer to verify the salvaged data. Ethiopian investigators have asked for foreign help to analyze the black-box data. They originally asked Germany’s Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation, but that agency said it <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ethiopia-airplane-germany/germany-says-will-not-analyse-ethiopian-airlines-black-box-idUSKCN1QU2HG">didn’t have the technical know-how</a> either. France’s Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety, one of the <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ethiopia-airplane/ethiopian-crash-black-boxes-arrive-in-paris-for-analysis-idUSKCN1QV0UF">most experienced crash investigation agencies</a> in the world, is handling them instead. In the early stages of an investigation, there are a lot of people working on different aspects of the inquiry all at once. As the preliminary lead accident investigator for the <a href="https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Helicopter-Crash-at-Adukrom-117151">Ghanaian MI-17 helicopter crash</a> in Adukrom, Ghana, in January 2007, I had to coordinate the securing of the crash site and do field interviews of witnesses while charting the debris and recovering the “black box” for further analysis. Technical groups assemble Other teams look at technical aspects that might have contributed in any way to the crash. They look at air traffic control activity and instructions, weather, human performance issues like crew experience and training, maintenance records, emergency response, safety equipment, aircraft performance and subsystems. They may disassemble the crashed plane’s engines or other components and use flight simulators to attempt to experience what the pilots were dealing with. Analysts even study the metals used to make components to see how they should perform – to later compare that information with what actually happened during the crash. A team also interviews any survivors, rescue personnel and subject-matter experts. Forensic teams and medical examiners will analyze victims’ remains to identify them for family members and to examine the injuries they suffered, and test for any drugs, alcohol or even carbon monoxide in their bodies that might have impaired their judgment or performance. In some cases, especially high-profile crashes, investigators will hold public hearings, at which they gather more evidence and make public some of what they have found. This helps assure the public that the process is open and transparent, and is not covering up the responsibility of any guilty party. Findings and conclusions After they rigorously analyze all the data, devise, test and evaluate different hypotheses for what could have happened, the investigative team must determine causes and contributing factors. The goal is to identify anything – acts someone did (or didn’t) do, properties of a materials, gusts of wind, and so on – that had any role in the crash. The report should include both immediate causes – such as active failures of pilots or maintenance crew – and underlying reasons, like insufficient training or pressure to rush through a task. Within 30 days after the crash, the investigation team must release a preliminary report to the <a href="https://www.icao.int/">International Civil Aviation Organization</a>, the U.N.-related global agency overseeing commercial air travel. A final report is normally expected to follow before a year has passed. In cases where a <a href="http://www.mh370.gov.my/en/">final report can’t be issued</a> on that timeline, the team should release an <a href="http://www.mh370.gov.my/en/442-4th-interim-statement-mh370-safety-investigation-8-march-2018">interim report on each anniversary</a> of the event, detailing the progress so far. Improving safety At any point during the investigation, investigators can recommend any preventative action that it has identified as necessary to improve flight safety. In the wake of the Lion Air crash, Boeing was reportedly working on <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/boeing-to-make-key-change-in-max-cockpit-software-11552413489">a fix to a software system</a>, but it didn’t get released before the Ethiopian Airlines crash. The final report, including all the safety recommendations, is released by the country that conducted the investigation to the public and is aimed at improving aviation safety and not to apportion blame.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/113602/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> Written by Daniel Kwasi Adjekum, Assistant Professor of Aviation, University of North Dakota. Republished with permission of <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/heres-how-airplane-crash-investigations-work-according-to-an-aviation-safety-expert-113602" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.

Travel

Pilots accused of having live stream bathroom camera

A Southwest Airlines flight attendant has sued the airline after she reported spotting two pilots livestreaming hidden-camera footage from the plane’s bathroom into the cockpit. Renee Steinaker alleged in her lawsuit that she discovered the surveillance when she was working on a flight in 2017, <a href="https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2019/10/25/southwest-airlines-lawsuit-pilots-livestreamed-plane-bathroom-flight-attendant-claims/2458570001/">The Arizona Republic</a> reported. At one point during the flight, Captain Terry Graham asked Steinaker to come to the cockpit so that he could leave to use the lavatory, following the airline’s requirement that two crew members must be in the cockpit at all times. Steinaker said when she entered, she noticed an iPad mounted to the windshield showing a livestream of Graham in the bathroom. According to the suit, co-pilot Ryan Russell seemed panicked and told her the camera was part of a “new security and top secret security measure that had been installed in the lavatories of all Southwest Airlines' 737-800 planes”. “They led her to believe that she and others had been filmed – had been videotaped if you will – while they were using the lavatory,” said aviation attorney Ronald Goldman. “It’s really hard to imagine a more outrageous kind of conduct.” Steinaker took a picture of the iPad as an evidence. She said she was told not to speak about the incident and warned that “if this got out, if this went public, no one, I mean no one, would ever fly our airline again”. The suit also alleged that the airline’s management attempted to silence and intimidate Steinaker and other flight attendants after they reported the incident. Steinaker’s husband David, who also works as a flight attendant, was “subjected <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2019/10/26/us/southwest-airlines-hidden-bathroom-camera-trnd/index.html">to at least five performance audits</a> in the course of a few months following the incident, when in his prior twenty-four –[years] of service, he only had approximately three audits”, the suit stated. The pair is suing the airline and the pilots for invasion of privacy, causing Renee Steinaker emotional distress, sexual harassment and retaliation. Southwest Airlines has denied that any camera was placed in the lavatories. “The safety and security of our employees and customers is Southwest’s uncompromising priority. As such, Southwest does not place cameras in the lavatories of our aircraft,” an airline representative said in a statement to The Arizona Republic. “Southwest will vigorously defend the lawsuit. When the incident happened two years ago, we investigated the allegations and addressed the situation with the crew involved. We can confirm from our investigation that there was never a camera in the lavatory; the incident was an inappropriate attempt at humour which the company did not condone.”

Travel

Couple caught in 'mile-high club’ after leaving plane toilet together

A couple has been caught emerging from a plane toilet together as a long queue of passengers waiting to use the facility looked on. The two passengers reportedly spent 10 minutes in the loo on a United Airlines flight before they stepped out. At one point, a flight attendant with a trolley remarked to one of the women waiting in line, “You’re still right here.” “There’s folks in there,” the passenger said. The bathroom door finally opened with a man going out, followed by a woman behind. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B2M7WUeAcOP/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B2M7WUeAcOP/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Well this...was definitely a first 😳🛩 . 😂 Tag a friend who needs to see this!👀 . #thelegendsaretrue #whatamiseeing #traveldiaries . 🎥: @staffordslick</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/staffordslick/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Stafford Slick</a> (@staffordslick) on Sep 9, 2019 at 12:46pm PDT </div> </blockquote> Passenger Stafford Slick, who recorded the scene, wrote on Instagram, “Well this… was definitely a first. “Couldn’t believe my eyes … I’ve heard the legends, but never thought I would see it in real life.” Since it was posted on Tuesday, the video has gone viral, racking up more than 5,000 views in a day. United Airlines has yet to comment on the incident.

Travel

How hotel air conditioners could be making you sick

So many things can be the cause of illness while on holidays, such as the sudden change in temperature and environment. But have you considered the germs that could be lurking in the air of your hotel room? One former hotel manager, Chris Johnston, revealed what is possibly the dirtiest part of a hotel room. Johnston revealed to Bustle that the air-conditioning vents are the germiest part of a hotel room and suggested to avoid using them if possible, <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/travel/5360662/hotel-air-con-machines-could-make-you-sick/">The Sun</a> reported. “One often overlooked source of … germs is the HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) unit in the room,” Johnston revealed. “If hotel staff fail to clean the filters, or at least the top visible portion, simply turning on the unit can cause these particles to fill your room and your lungs.” It’s recommended the filters of the aircon be changed every three months. The relationship between air-conditioning and illness have been linked to a spread of flu within the United Arab Emirates. Due to the hot and humid weather in the country the cooling systems are widely used. Dr Jimmy Joseph, who works at the Universal Hospital in Abu Dhabi, revealed to Gulf News, “It would certainly help if residents had their air conditioning and ventilation ducts serviced. These areas can harbour allergens, and allergy-related respiratory illnesses are known to be particularly common in the UAE.” Another thing to avoid in hotels is using drinking glasses. A <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/travel/5230158/why-you-should-never-use-the-drinking-glasses-in-a-hotel-room/">disturbing video emerged</a> in December 2017 of cleaners in some of China’s most luxurious five-star hotels, where guests could be paying as much as $640 a night, using a toilet brush to clean drinking glasses and mugs before moving on to the toilet bowl. The cleaners were also exposed with indecent floor cleaning as they dunked bath towels in the toilet bowl before mopping the bathroom floor with them. Additionally, the cleaners folded the bedsheets on the floor and used hand towels to dry the drinking glasses and mugs. The video was supposedly shot by an undercover journalist for South China Morning Post after poor hygiene reports at the Kempinski and Shangri-la hotels in Harbin. The reporter posed as a cleaner to be employed by the hotel and filmed the disturbing video during a trainee shift, where experienced cleaners were teaching the newly hired the unclean routines. Reports from the Chinese media suggest the health planning commission in Harbin is investigating and plans to fine the hotels involved, while the Kempinski hotel claims the staff member shown in the video has since been fired. Another item to steer clear of while abroad incudes the <a href="https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-advice/accommodation/the-disgusting-reason-you-should-always-bring-your-own-hairdryer-on-holiday/news-story/fb246b320181900f9e29f25a4a4805dc">hotel’s hairdryer</a> which can contain more germs than the toilet seat – yuck, right? In a previous study for <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/BusinessTravel/story?id=4269295&page=1">America’s ABC</a>, nine hotel rooms were tested across the board, ranging from three to five stars. The test was conducted by microbiologist Charles Gerba. “There must be some things you can do with a hair dryer that I am not aware of because some of them were pretty germy,” he revealed. This is thought to be the case due to cleaners focusing on the more obviously dirty items within the bathroom such as the toilet, the showers and the sink, and therefore, disregarding the secret more hidden germs lurking elsewhere. The light switches and even room service menus can be just as grimy as many dirty hands have touched the items and they most likely haven’t thought to be given a wipe down, enabling the germs to grow over time.

Travel

Why you should stay hydrated on the plane

The airplane cabin does strange things to your body – it can hurt your sinuses, <a href="http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20150112-why-in-flight-food-tastes-weird">dull your taste buds</a>, <a href="https://www.allure.com/story/skin-on-a-plane">make your skin flaky</a> and even induce nosebleeds at times. These problems all have the same root: Dryness. A <a href="https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/53284046.pdf">2013 study by the University of Palermo</a> found that the humidity levels on a variety of aircrafts – including Boeing 767, Airbus A320 and A340 – range between 1.8 and 18.5 per cent. As the plane reaches higher altitudes, the atmosphere in the cabin grows increasingly dry, even drier than most deserts. For comparison, the relative humidity in the Gobi Desert in May averages 23 per cent, while Maria Elena South – which is widely considered as the driest area of the hyper-arid Atacama Desert in Chile – holds a relative humidity of 17.3 per cent. The dry cabin environment is indeed not ideal – according to the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.nationalasthma.org.au/news/2016/indoor-humidity" target="_blank">National Asthma Council of Australia</a>, the ideal humidity to deter airborne viruses is between 30 and 50 per cent. Staying hydrated is a great way to minimise the negative effects of low humidity such as <a href="https://rockymountainurgentcare.com/why-higher-altitudes-are-hard-on-the-skin/">skin sensitivities</a>, <a href="https://www.smartertravel.com/low-airplane-humidity/">exacerbated jet lag</a> or <a href="https://www.askthepilot.com/questionanswers/cabin-air-quality/">increased susceptibility to illnesses</a>. So next time you get onboard, do not hesitate to ask the flight attendant for an extra bottle or two – your body needs it.

Travel

Passenger divides internet over seat complaint on flight: "Ridiculous"

A man has been slammed as “entitled” and “ridiculous” after posting a complaint about airplane seat-swapping on his social media account. On Sunday, Australian journalist Daniel Brettig shared on Twitter that he asked a fellow passenger to exchange seats with him so that he could sit next to his girlfriend. Brettig explained that it was the last day the couple would see each other for two and a half months. However, the “boomer” passenger refused to move “because they wanted to look out the window”, Brettig wrote. “Strong generational metaphor areas, Shane.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> A boomer refused to swap seats on a flight this morning to let my gf and I sit together on the last day before we're apart for 2.5 months - because they wanted to look out the window. Strong generational metaphor areas, Shane — Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig) <a href="https://twitter.com/danbrettig/status/1145476449551310850?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2019</a></blockquote> Brettig’s post was met with a wave of criticism, with many social media users slamming his reaction to the rejection as “spoiled”, “selfish” and “entitled”. “Good. Buy your seat, choose your seat. Don’t ask for someone else’s that they have either earned, chosen or paid for,” one commented. “Window seat is sacred. You should have pre-selected your seats if this time together was so important,” another wrote. “What a ridiculous & self-entitled Tweet. If sitting together is so important yet you can’t be bothered to pre-select seats in advance, whether by paying a fee or otherwise, why should someone else give up their seat for you?” one added. Some pointed out that while the request was reasonable, it was also fair for the fellow passenger to say no. “It’s a reasonable request, but also more than reasonable to have that request rejected. I possibly would have done the same given how I was feeling on the day,” one wrote. “Your lack of organisations is not someone else’s issue.” Another commented, “Nothing wrong in my opinion with asking someone to swap seats, but also nothing wrong in the other person’s right to turn down the request.”

Travel

Passenger’s dog found dead after “running out of oxygen” on long haul flight

A husky has been found dead in the cargo hold of an Air France KLM Jetliner after running out of oxygen during the 11-hour flight. The plane was travelling from Amsterdam and arriving in Los Angeles, and upon landing is when the dog was found. Airline sources told <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2019/03/20/dog-dies-air-france-flight-lax-amsterdam/">TMZ</a> that photos of the dog are “too disturbing to share”. According to one Air France employee, the dog had been “incorrectly” loaded into the cargo hold and was unable to breathe on the non-stop flight. A spokesperson for PETA has given their thoughts on the matter. They told <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8686525/dog-cargo-hold-air-france-klm-plane-oxygen-dead/">The Sun</a>: "Tragedies like this one are exactly why airlines must require that animals travel in the main cabin only. "PETA urges Air France-KLM to join airlines such as JetBlue and Southwest in prohibiting companion animals from being flown in the cargo hold, where they endure noise, extreme temperatures and sometimes inadequate pressurisation, before yet another sensitive animal suffers and dies, terrified and alone." Air France policy states that passengers are allowed to keep a dog or cat weighing no more than 17 pounds (7 kg) in the cabin, but that’s only if the pet is at least 10 weeks old and has all required shots. Do you think pets should travel in the main cabin area of the flight? Let us know in the comments below.

Travel

Plane seat etiquette: Who gets the armrest?

When it comes to plane etiquette, the unspoken rules and courtesies can be quite confusing. With narrowing seats and <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-tips/the-new-rules-that-could-make-flying-better-for-everyone/">shrinking legroom</a> in airplanes, the issue of personal space has become more contentious among passengers. One of the common sources of <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/domestic-travel/why-you-shouldnt-let-air-rage-get-the-better-of-you/">air rage</a> cases between cabin mates is the armrest. In 2017, a man and a woman <a href="https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-tips/offbeat/airplane-fight-armrest-video">reportedly</a> got into a screaming match in a Monarch Airlines flight from London to Malaga over an armrest between the aisle and middle seats. Last year, a woman posted a video on Twitter of her seatmate on an American Airlines flight who was allegedly "making an active scene" over their arms touching. The video went viral with more than 453,000 views. So, who should have the right to the armrest? While there are no hard and fast rules, there are some customs that many deem fairer than others. Most experts believe the middle seat should have both armrests. "The person seated at the window seat has their own armrest and wall, along with the person seated in the aisle seat – they also have a little more leg room," Zarife Hardy, director of the Australian School of Etiquette told <a href="https://travel.nine.com.au/2018/05/03/10/22/is-the-middle-seat-passenger-entitled-to-the-armrests-on-a-plane">9Honey Travel</a>. "So, the person or people seated in the middle generally get the armrests first … However, let's keep it fair and just wait to see how it casually and politely happens." Flight attendant Jacqueline Marie shared the sentiment. "I one hundred percent believe the middle seat has the right to both armrests," she told <a href="https://thepointsguy.com/guide/jetiquette-who-gets-the-middle-seat-armrests/">The Points Guy</a>. "I view the armrests as boundary lines but, shockingly, as a flight attendant I have never been asked to fix a dispute regarding seat space. But you know the sad thing? I honestly feel like many of those who get stuck in the middle just hope for a peaceful flight and they avoid confrontation, even if it means they will not be as comfortable." According to Christopher Elliott, journalist and co-founder of advocacy group Travelers United, the armrests are still a shared space – but the middle seat should have priority. "If you're sitting in a window or aisle seat, the middle seat passenger gets to put his arms down first," he wrote on the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/whose-armrest-is-it-anyway-the-unspoken-etiquette-of-airline-bus-and-train-travel/2017/02/22/13704fbc-f461-11e6-8d72-263470bf0401_story.html?utm_term=.c1abbdf6c270">Washington Post</a>. "If there's room left over, great. If not, it belongs to the middle seat passenger." <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> When I decided to take a picture & video to document the incident, I deplaned, picked up my bag, and boarded the shuttle. While I'm on the shuttle, this woman LIED that I assaulted her and the <a href="https://twitter.com/AmericanAir?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AmericanAir</a> flight attendant called the cops to remove me from the shuttle bus. <a href="https://t.co/czMyxkQVQ7">pic.twitter.com/czMyxkQVQ7</a> — The High Priestess of Black Joy (@AmberJPhillips) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmberJPhillips/status/989729546810241024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 27, 2018</a></blockquote> But what about situations like the woman on the American Airlines flight faced, when we feel like a seatmate has invaded our space? Gary Leff, co-founder of <a href="https://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2016/08/26/someone-invading-space-plane/">InsideFlyer.com</a> suggested to observe the situation. If there is another empty seat in the cabin, you can ask a flight attendant discreetly if you can move – however, this scenario is unlikely to happen on a crowded flight. "If your seatmate could easily take up less space, try to start a polite conversation and mention that you’d appreciate some of the armrest," said Leff. However, if they unwillingly take up more space due to their body size, Leff suggested there is not much that you can do. "The only time to enlist the help of the flight attendant is as a last resort. A flight attendant isn't going to stay by your seat through the flight to monitor your seatmate's behaviour. But if the person is clearly abusive, getting it on record with the crew can be a prophylactic measure." Have you ever dealt with armrest problems on the plane? Let us know in the comments below.

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Plane seat etiquette: Who gets the armrest?

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Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Entertainment

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Keep up to date

Search

Air pollution could be making honey bees sick

Unbelievable! Airline offers UNLIMITED flights for $181

5 of the best air-cleaning plants according to NASA

How airplane crash investigations work

Pilots accused of having live stream bathroom camera

Couple caught in 'mile-high club’ after leaving plane toilet together

How hotel air conditioners could be making you sick

Why you should stay hydrated on the plane

Passenger divides internet over seat complaint on flight: "Ridiculous"

Passenger’s dog found dead after “running out of oxygen” on long haul flight

Plane seat etiquette: Who gets the armrest?

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