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.

Contents

• THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
• COMMITTEE ON AIR QUALITY IN PASSENGER CABINS OF COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT
• BOARD ON ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND TOXICOLOGY
• OTHER REPORTS OF THE BOARD ON ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND TOXICOLOGY
• Preface
• Summary
• 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
  • ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL 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
  • CONTAMINANTS WITH INTERNAL SOURCES
  • CONTAMINANTS FROM AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS
  • CONCLUSIONS
  • RECOMMENDATIONS
  • REFERENCES
• 4. Biological Agents
  • GENERAL INFORMATION ON BIOAEROSOLS
  • ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING ON AIRCRAFT
  • HEALTH EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO BIOAEROSOLS
  • CONTROL OF EXPOSURES TO BIOLOGICAL AGENTS
  • CONCLUSIONS
  • RECOMMENDATIONS
  • REFERENCES
• 5. Health Considerations Related to Chemical Contaminants and Physical Factors
  • FLIGHT ENVIRONMENT
  • CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS OF CONCERN
  • OTHER HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS
  • CONCLUSIONS
  • RECOMMENDATIONS
  • REFERENCES
• 6. Health Surveillance
  • STUDIES OF AIRCRAFT CABIN AIR QUALITY
  • OTHER SOURCES OF HEALTH EFFECTS INFORMATION
  • CURRENT HEALTH-RELATED DATA COLLECTION SYSTEMS
  • CONCLUSIONS
  • RECOMMENDATIONS
  • REFERENCES
• 7. Air-Quality Measurement Techniques and Applications
  • OZONE
  • CARBON MONOXIDE
  • CARBON DIOXIDE
  • RELATIVE HUMIDITY
  • PARTICULATE MATTER
  • PESTICIDES
  • OTHER MONITORING METHODS
  • SAMPLING LOCATIONS
  • DATA PROCESSING
  • CONCLUSIONS
  • RECOMMENDATIONS
  • REFERENCES
• 8. Surveillance and Research Programs on Cabin Air Quality
  • AIR-QUALITY SURVEILLANCE
  • HEALTH SURVEILLANCE
  • AIR-QUALITY RESEARCH
  • STAGING
  • 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
  • Appendix C Relevant Federal Aviation Regulations
  • Appendix D Additional Monitoring Techniques
  • Appendix E Glossary

This project was supported by Award No. DTFA0100P100P10285 between the National Academy of Sciences and the U.S. Department of Transportation. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the organizations or agencies that provided support for this project.

NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.