INVESTIGATION OF CABIN AIR QUALITY IN COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFTS

This project covered 16 aircrafts including both smoking and non-smoking flights from June 1996 to August 1997. The parameters concerned were carbon dioxide (CO2), humidity, temperature, carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), bacteria, fungus, and respirable suspended particulate (RSP). Compared with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standard, CO2, CO and ozone levels on all flights were within such standards. Peak levels of CO2 and particulate were observed during both boarding and de-boarding periods. For the smoking flights, the average particulate level (138 µg/m 3 ) was much higher comparing with the nonsmoking flights (7.6 µg/m 3 ). Low humidity in long haul flights caused uncomfortable conditions to the cabin crews. The average temperature was within the range of 23+/-2 o C.