Cabin air quality on non-smoking commercial flights: A review of published data on airborne pollutants |
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Authors: | Ruiqing Chen Lei Fang Junjie Liu Britta Herbig Victor Norrefeldt Florian Mayer Richard Fox Pawel Wargocki |
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Affiliation: | 1. Tianjin Key Laboratory of Indoor Air Environmental Quality Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China;2. International Centre for Indoor Environment and Energy, Department of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark;3. LMU University Hospital Munich, Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Munich, Germany;4. Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP, Holzkirchen Branch, Valley, Germany;5. Aircraft Environment Solutions Inc., San Tan Valley, Arizona, USA |
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Abstract: | We reviewed 47 documents published 1967–2019 that reported measurements of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on commercial aircraft. We compared the measurements with the air quality standards and guidelines for aircraft cabins and in some cases buildings. Average levels of VOCs for which limits exist were lower than the permissible levels except for benzene with average concentration at 5.9 ± 5.5 μg/m3. Toluene, benzene, ethylbenzene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, limonene, nonanal, hexanal, decanal, octanal, acetic acid, acetone, ethanol, butanal, acrolein, isoprene and menthol were the most frequently measured compounds. The concentrations of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) and other contaminants did not exceed standards and guidelines in buildings except for the average NO2 concentration at 12 ppb. Although the focus was on VOCs, we also retrieved the data on other parameters characterizing cabin environment. Ozone concentration averaged 38 ppb below the upper limit recommended for aircraft. The outdoor air supply rate ranged from 1.7 to 39.5 L/s per person and averaged 6.0 ± 0.8 L/s/p (median 5.8 L/s/p), higher than the minimum level recommended for commercial aircraft. Carbon dioxide concentration averaged 1315 ± 232 ppm, lower than what is permitted in aircraft and close to what is permitted in buildings. Measured temperatures averaged 23.5 ± 0.8°C and were generally within the ranges recommended for avoiding thermal discomfort. Relative humidity averaged 16% ± 5%, lower than what is recommended in buildings. |
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Keywords: | cabin air quality commercial aircraft contaminants in-flight measurement thermal environment |
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