EMB ERJ 170/175 ER/LR
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Distraction; Physiological - Other; Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Maintenance Action; General Physical Injury / Incapacitation
Procedure; Aircraft; Company Policy
Previous leg; strong smell (of dead animal or dirty socks) entered cockpit through PACKs; seemed isolated to PACK 1; and crew turned off PACK 1 in flight to reduce smell. Crew notified Maintenance control through Dispatch relay of ACARS message. Upon landing; troubleshooting was done by 'on-call' Maintenance. They diagnosed issue as APU BLEED issue; and deferred the APU. When we took the flight; smell returned in full force around V1/Vr. Smell was strong enough to make me sick to my stomach. Again turned off PACK 1. Smell diminished until descent; when it returned with the pack switching logic caused a cross-bleed from BLEED 1 to 2. I wrote this smell up again in a major maintenance base. After doing some research; I found some evidence that the smell was likely due organophosphates (OP) contaminated cabin air due to mechanical issues with the engine. After research; I have found the smell is probably a toxic organophosphates (OP) contamination event. Neither [I] nor my crew was made aware of the toxic nature of these vapors. We want to prevent this aircraft from poisoning any additional crewmembers; if this is actually what is happening. We also want to get the engine fixed; if it is in fact experiencing a mechanical failure.I was researching the origin of the pack smell; as it made me feel sick. When I came across some online data that fully explained the toxic nature of what we experienced. While researching; I found that it is a common issue with some seal forward of the HP bleed air valve in the CF34. I really wish we were better informed about this issue. Educate crews; mechanics; and our air carrier about toxic organophosphates (OP) contamination events. Scope the associated engines; and fix the problems. Be human as a company. If you poison one of your employees; please let them know of the dangers of that poison.
An ERJ-170 developed a dirty socks odor during takeoff and again during descent. Engine 1 Bleed OFF seemed to help control but not eliminate the chemical contaminate (TCP) responsible for the odor from entering the left PACK.