AN A300 FLT ATTENDANT RPTED THAT AN UNKNOWN ODOR WAS CAUSING DISTRESS TO SEVERAL PAX DURING TAXI OUT FROM GATE AT JFK. ULTIMATELY; THE FLT WAS CHANGED TO A DIFFERENT ACFT.

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AS WE WERE TAXIING OUT; AND SAFETY DEMO WAS PLAYING; PAX SEATED IN ROWS 9-20 COMPLAINED TO FLT ATTENDANT #3 (THE SAFETY DEMO FLT ATTENDANT) THAT THEY WERE EXPERIENCING EYE IRRITATION; AS WELL AS THROAT AND BRONCHIAL IRRITATION DUE TO SOME ODOR COMING FROM LOWER VENTS LOCATED BY PAX SEAT LEG AREAS; MAINLY ON THE ACFT'S L-HAND SIDE. I NOTICED THE PAX ALL STANDING; TRYING TO GET FLT ATTENDANT #3'S ATTN. SO; I WENT TO INVESTIGATE. I TRIED TO GET A SENSE OF THE ODOR THE PAX COMPLAINED OF. UNFORTUNATELY; I; TOO; INHALED THE STRONG ODOR. IT WENT STRAIGHT INTO MY BRONCHIAL TUBES AND FELT LIKE A BURNING SENSATION TRAPPED IN MY LUNGS. CAPT WAS NOTIFIED IMMEDIATELY. MY BEST DESCRIPTION OF THE ODOR WAS IT WAS SIMILAR TO MACE; TEAR GAS; PEPPER SPRAY -- 'THAT CATEGORY.' FO CAME OUT TO INVESTIGATE THE CABIN. WE PULLED OFF TAXI LINE. ENGS TURNED OFF. FO SUGGESTED IT MIGHT BE DEICING FLUID. I DON'T THINK WE WERE DEICED THAT PARTICULAR TRIP! CAPT DECIDED TO CALL MAINT; WHO CAME IN THROUGH CARGO COMPARTMENT. THEY; TOO; SENSED THE ODOR. IT WAS NOT DEICING FLUID. I HEARD ONE MAINT MAN TELL THE OTHER; CODE X?