Multiple crewmembers suffered varying degrees of physiological impairment; apparently the result of noxious fumes in the cockpit and cabin of their A319. the symptoms lasted varying periods of time up to a month.

Narrative

While climbing to FL260 the aft cabin flight attendant called the cockpit to advise that the Lead Flight Attendant had noticed a noxious smell; one of a sulfur or rotten egg. She had become weak and was unable to stand on her own in the front of the first class cabin. The other two helped her to the rear cabin and placed her on O2. She was responding and we advised them to keep us informed. We leveled off at FL260 and tried to discern any odor. There was none at the time and we decided to continue on towards our destination. Some 10 to 15 minutes later; we were advised that; although she was still not feeling well; she had responded to the O2 and could walk on her own. However; another attendant had gone forward and could still smell the odor in the front cabin. It was then that the First Officer and I got a few whiffs of the odor. We immediately donned our O2 masks and established communications through the interphone. We increased our speed and proceeded to our destination where we performed a normal descent; approach and landing except for having the O2 masks and goggles on. After arrival the jet was written up for noxious odors; a Cabin Air Quality report was completed and the crew was removed from the remainder of the trip and our next flight canceled. We stayed in the area and returned to base the next day. Both the Lead Attendant and I had symptoms of headache; stinging eyes; scratchy throat and a metallic taste in the mouth. The other crew members had some minor symptoms of throat and eye irritation.