Passenger evaluation of the optimum balance between fresh air supply and humidity from 7-h exposures in a simulated aircraft cabin.

Full Abstract

A 21-seat section of an aircraft cabin with realistic pollution sources was built inside a climate chamber capable of providing fresh outside air at very low humidity. Maintaining a constant 200 l/s rate of total air supply, i.e. recirculated and make-up air, to the cabin, experiments simulating 7-h transatlantic flights were carried out at four rates of fresh outside air supply--1.4, 3.3, 4.7, and 9.4 l/s per person (3, 7, 10, and 20 cfm/person)--resulting in humidity levels, ranging from 7% to 28% relative humidity (RH). Four groups of 16-18 subjects acted as passengers and crew and were each exposed to the four simulated flight conditions. During each flight the subjects completed questionnaires three times to provide subjective ratings of air quality and of symptoms commonly experienced during flight. Physiological tests of eye, nose, and skin function were administered twice. Analysis of the subjective assessments showed that increasing RH in the aircraft cabin to 28% RH by reducing outside flow to 1.4 l/s per person did not reduce the intensity of the symptoms that are typical of the aircraft cabin environment. On the contrary, it intensified complaints of headache, dizziness, and claustrophobia, due to the increased level of contaminants.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS:
The investigation shows that increasing aircraft cabin humidity by decreasing the ventilation flow rate of fresh outside air would not decrease reports of discomfort made by cabin occupants.

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Author information

Author/s: Strøm-Tejsen, P (P); Wyon, D P (DP); Lagercrantz, L (L); Fang, L (L);

Affiliation: International Centre for Indoor Environment and Energy, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark. pst(-atsign-)mek.dtu.dk

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Indoor air (Indoor Air), published in Denmark. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Apr; vol 17 (issue 2) : pp 92-108

Dates: Created 2007/03/29; Completed 2007/07/20;

PMID: 17391232, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult
Aged
Air Movements
Air Pollutants - adverse effects; analysis
Air Pollution, Indoor - adverse effects; analysis
Aircraft
Carbon Dioxide - adverse effects; analysis
Dizziness - etiology
Environmental Monitoring
Female
Headache - etiology

Humans
Humidity
Male
Middle Aged
Noise - adverse effects
Organic Chemicals - adverse effects; analysis
Phobic Disorders - etiology
Questionnaires
Sick Building Syndrome - etiology
Temperature
Ventilation

Associated Chemicals: Air Pollutants (0) ; Organic Chemicals (0) ; Carbon Dioxide (124-38-9)

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