The Airliner Cabin Environment and the Health of Passengers and Crew

Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 9780309082891
eISBN Pdf: 9780309567701
eISBN Epub: 9780309170239
Place of publication: United States
Year of digital publication: 2002
Month: January
Pages: 345
Language: English

Caption

Although poor air quality is probably not the hazard that is foremost in peoples' minds as they board planes, it has been a concern for years. Passengers have complained about dry eyes, sore throat, dizziness, headaches, and other symptoms. Flight attendants have repeatedly raised questions about the safety of the air that they breathe.

The Airliner Cabin Environment and the Health of Passengers and Crew examines in detail the aircraft environmental control systems, the sources of chemical and biological contaminants in aircraft cabins, and the toxicity and health effects associated with these contaminants. The book provides some recommendations for potential approaches for improving cabin air quality and a surveillance and research program.

THE AIRLINER CABIN ENVIRONMENT AND THE HEALTH OF PASSENGERS AND CREW
Copyright
OTHER REPORTS OF THE BOARD ON ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND TOXICOLOGY
Preface
Contents
The Airliner Cabin Environment and the Health of Passengers and Crew
Summary
- THE CHARGE TO THE COMMITTEE
- THE COMMITTEE’S APPROACH TO ITS CHARGE
- THE COMMITTEE’S EVALUATION
  - Aircraft Systems
  - Exposures on Aircraft
  - Health Considerations
  - Findings
- RECOMMENDATIONS
1 Introduction
- EXPOSURES ON AIRCRAFT
- REGULATORY ASPECTS OF CABIN AIR QUALITY
- HISTORY OF PREVIOUS CABIN AIR-QUALITY STUDIES
- ORGANIZATION OF THE REPORT
- REFERENCES
2 Environmental Control
- ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
  - Pressure
  - Contamination
    - Contaminants Originating in the Cabin
    - Contaminants Originating Outside the Cabin
    - Transient Response of Cabin Environmental Conditions
    - Reactive Contaminants
  - Temperature Control
  - Air Distribution and Circulation
    - Recirculation
  - Relative Humidity
- ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SYSTEMS
  - Bleed-Air Supply
  - Auxiliary Power Unit
  - Air-Conditioning Packs
  - Air Distribution System
  - Ground-Based Systems
- ALTERNATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SYSTEMS
- ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SYSTEM DESIGN AND OPERATIONAL STANDARDS
- CONCLUSIONS
- RECOMMENDATIONS
- REFERENCES
3 Chemical Contaminants and Their Sources
- CONTAMINANTS WITH EXTERNAL SOURCES
  - Ground-Level Pollution
  - Pollution During Ascent and Descent
  - Ozone During Cruise
    - Atmospheric Ozone Concentrations
    - Ozone Chemistry
    - Methods of Controlling Ozone in Aircraft
    - Measurements of Ozone in Aircraft
- CONTAMINANTS WITH INTERNAL SOURCES
  - Passengers and Belongings
  - Aircraft Component Materials
  - Cleaning Materials and Dust
  - Pesticides
    - Disinsection Procedures
    - Composition of Pesticide Sprays
    - Pesticide Exposure
- CONTAMINANTS FROM AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS
- CONCLUSIONS
- RECOMMENDATIONS
- REFERENCES
4 Biological Agents
- GENERAL INFORMATION ON BIOAEROSOLS
  - Biological Agents in Outdoor Air Near the Ground
  - Biological Agents in Outside Air in Flight
  - People
  - Arthropods, Pets, and Service Animals
    - Arthropods
    - Pets and Service Animals
  - Settled Dust
  - Microbiological Growth
  - Contaminated Fluids
  - Other Reservoirs of Potential Infectious Agents
- ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING ON AIRCRAFT
  - Sampling for Culturable Bacteria and Fungi
  - Sampling for Allergens
  - Evaluation of Available Information on Bioaerosols
    - Microorganisms Sampled in Cabin Air
    - Other Biological Agents
      - Bacterial Endotoxin
      - Fungal Toxins
      - Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds (MVOCs)
  - Recommended Sampling for Biological Agents
    - NIOSH-Sponsored Review
    - Allergens
    - Infectious Agents
- HEALTH EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO BIOAEROSOLS
  - Hypersensitivity Disease
  - Infectious Disease
    - Influenza
      - Influenza and Air Travel
      - Public-Health Measures Related to Influenza and Travel
    - Measles
      - Measles and Air Travel
      - Public-Health Measures Related to Measles and Travel
    - Tuberculosis
      - Tuberculosis and Air Travel
      - Public-Health Measures Related to Tuberculosis and Travel
    - Meningococcal Disease
      - Meningococcal Disease and Air Travel
      - Public-Health Measures Related to Meningococcal Disease and Air Travel
- CONTROL OF EXPOSURES TO BIOLOGICAL AGENTS
  - Hypersensitivity Diseases, Toxins, and Nuisance Agents
    - Infectious Agents
      - Immunization against Infectious Diseases
      - Recognition of Potential Infection During or Shortly After Flight
      - Postexposure Prophylaxis (PEP)
    - Cabin Ventilation and Exposure to Bioaerosols
      - Ventilation Rate and Air Movement
      - Recirculation of Cabin Air and Exposure to Infectious Agents
      - Treatment of Recirculated Air and Exposure to Infectious Agents
- CONCLUSIONS
  - Aeroallergens, Toxins, and Biological Irritants
  - Infectious Agents
- RECOMMENDATIONS
  - Aeroallergens, Toxins, and Biological Irritants
  - Infectious Agents
- REFERENCES
5 Health Considerations Related to Chemical Contaminants and Physical Factors
- FLIGHT ENVIRONMENT
  - Cabin Pressure
  - Relative Humidity
- CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS OF CONCERN
  - Ozone
  - Engine Oils and Hydraulic Fluids
    - Tricresyl Phosphate Esters
    - Other Phosphate Esters
    - Carbon Monoxide
    - Formaldehyde
  - Deicing Fluids
  - Pyrethroid Pesticides
  - Aldehydes
  - Carbon Dioxide
  - Particulate Matter
- OTHER HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS
  - Physiological Stressors
  - Multiple and Interactive Factors
  - Susceptibility Factors
- CONCLUSIONS
- RECOMMENDATIONS
- REFERENCES
6 Health Surveillance
- STUDIES OF AIRCRAFT CABIN AIR QUALITY
  - General Air-Quality Surveys
  - The “Aerotoxic Syndrome”
  - Disinsection Studies
  - Transmission of Infectious Agents
    - Influenza Virus
    - Measles Virus
      - Mycobacterium tuberculosis
  - Cabin Air Pressure and Health Risks
- OTHER SOURCES OF HEALTH EFFECTS INFORMATION
- CURRENT HEALTH-RELATED DATA COLLECTION SYSTEMS
- CONCLUSIONS
- RECOMMENDATIONS
- REFERENCES
7 Air-Quality Measurement Techniques and Applications
- OZONE
  - Available Technology
  - Application to Aircraft Cabin
- CARBON MONOXIDE
  - Available Technology
  - Application to Aircraft Cabin
- CARBON DIOXIDE
  - Available Technology
  - Application to Aircraft Cabin
- RELATIVE HUMIDITY
  - Available Technology
  - Application to Aircraft Cabin
- PARTICULATE MATTER
  - Continuous Monitoring for Fine Particles
    - Available Technology
    - Application to Aircraft Cabin
  - Integrated Monitoring of Particulate Matter
    - Available Technology
    - Application to Aircraft Cabin
- PESTICIDES
- OTHER MONITORING METHODS
- SAMPLING LOCATIONS
- DATA PROCESSING
  - Cockpit Indicators
  - Logging and Storage of Data
  - Available Technology
- CONCLUSIONS
- RECOMMENDATIONS
- REFERENCES
8 Surveillance and Research Programs on Cabin Air Quality
- AIR-QUALITY SURVEILLANCE
- HEALTH SURVEILLANCE
- AIR-QUALITY RESEARCH
  - Ozone
  - Cabin Pressure and Oxygen Partial Pressure
  - Outside-Air Ventilation
  - Air-Quality Incidents
  - Pesticide Exposure
  - Relative Humidity
  - Fine Particulate Matter
- STAGING
  - Feasibility Demonstration of Air-Quality Monitoring Program
  - Development of Standard Monitoring Package
- CONCLUSIONS
- RECOMMENDATIONS
- REFERENCES
Appendixes
Appendix A Biographical Information on the Committee on Air Quality in Passenger Cabins of Commercial Aircraft
Appendix B Building-Related Symptoms
- CHARACTERIZATION OF BUILDING-RELATED SYMPTOMS
- INVESTIGATIONS OF BRS
- ANALOGIES WITH PASSENGER AIR CABINS
  - Cabin Crew
  - Passengers
  - Comparisons of Contaminant Levels in Aircraft and Buildings
- CONCLUSIONS
- REFERENCES
Appendix C Relevant Federal Aviation Regulations
- SEC. 25.831 VENTILATION.
- SEC. 25.832 CABIN OZONE CONCENTRATION.
- SEC. 25.841 PRESSURIZED CABINS.
- SEC. 121.219 VENTILATION.
- SEC. 121.578 CABIN OZONE CONCENTRATION.
- SEC. 125.117 VENTILATION.
Appendix D Additional Monitoring Techniques
- ELEMENTAL DETECTORS
  - Phosphorus
  - Sulfur
- HYDROCARBON DETECTORS
- PARTICLE DETECTORS
- BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
- REFERENCES
Appendix E Glossary

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