Aviation Safety: More Research Needed on the Effects of Air Quality on Airliner Cabin Occupants
Released: 2004-02-10T00:00:00

Letter

Background

Since people began traveling in pressurized, climate-controlled aircraft more than 40 years ago, questions have arisen about the quality of air inside aircraft cabins and its effect on the health of passengers and cabin crews. In addition, the number of people traveling by commercial aircraft has increased dramatically over the years, with more than 600 million passengers flown by U.S. carriers in 2002 alone. Despite a downturn in air travel following the events of September 11, 2001, FAA expects demand to recover and then continue a long-term trend of 3.6 percent annual growth. As air travel has become more accessible, the flying public mirrors the general population more closely than in years past. Therefore, it includes more young and elderly passengers who can be more susceptible to potential health risks associated with air travel. This diverse group of passengers, as well as the cabin crew, experiences an environment in the aircraft cabin that in some ways is similar to that of homes and buildings but in other ways is distinctly different. The National Research Council (the Council)—the principal operating agency of the National Academy of Sciences—has issued two reports at the request of Congress on the air quality in aircraft cabins, one in 1986 and another in 2001. The 2001 Council report notes that the aircraft cabin is a unique environment in which the occupants are densely confined in a pressurized space. The report goes on to note that airline passengers encounter environmental factors that include low humidity, reduced air pressure, and potential exposure to air contaminants, including ozone, carbon monoxide, pesticides, various organic chemicals, and biological agents that can have serious health effects. The report concluded that there are still many unanswered questions about how these factors affect cabin occupants’ health and comfort and about the frequency and severity of incidents in which heated oils or hydraulic fluids release contaminants into the cabin ventilation system. Figure 1 shows the passenger cabin of a commercial aircraft.

As depicted in figure 2, supplying air to modern jet airliner cabins is a complex process that varies somewhat among airplane models but has essential characteristics that are shared by most airliners. Basically, some of the outside air that enters the aircraft engines is diverted and processed for use in the cabin in order to achieve an air pressure and temperature closer to that experienced on the earth’s surface. FAA requires that air supplied to aircraft be designed to maintain a cabin pressure equivalent to that at an elevation of no more than 8,000 feet, which is similar to the elevation of Mexico City (7,500 ft.). Nevertheless, the air pressures inside aircraft cabins are much higher than the extremely low outside air pressures at normal cruising altitudes of 25,000 to 40,000 feet. After flowing through the engines, the air enters an intricate system of cooling devices and ducts and is distributed throughout the cabin and cockpit.

Airlines that fly in areas where ozone levels are high are required to take steps to ensure that ozone levels do not exceed prescribed standards (e.g., by having a device that converts the ozone pollutant into oxygen before it enters the cabin and cockpit). The Council reported that unacceptable high ozone levels can occur in passenger cabins of commercial aircraft in the absence of effective controls. On most modern aircraft, an average of about 56 percent of the outside air supplied to the cabin is vented out of the aircraft through valves that help regulate cabin pressure. The remaining air is then recirculated through the cabin; this recirculation allows the engines to use less fuel for air supply and pressurization. In addition to less fuel and pressurization, recirculation also provides the benefit of higher airplane cabin humidity, improved airflow patterns, and minimized temperature gradients. On most large aircraft, the recirculated air typically passes through filters that are designed to remove harmful particulates, such as viruses and bacteria. FAA requires that aircraft ventilation systems for aircraft designs certified after June 1996 be designed to supply at least 10 cubic feet per minute of outside air per person under standard operating conditions. This compares with the standard minimum rate of 15 cubic feet per minute per person for buildings recommended by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). However, according to FAA officials, there is currently no standard for cabin ventilation rate, and it has yet to be determined if it is appropriate to compare building and aircraft ventilation rates because outside air at altitude is very clean, while air sources for buildings are often contaminated by pollution. Furthermore, in rare instances, oil leaks or other engine malfunctions can cause contaminants such as carbon monoxide to be released into the cabin ventilation system. The 2001 Council report noted that questions about the frequency and significance of such incidents remain unanswered. In February 2002, FAA published a report that discussed many of the issues in the Council report, including an estimate of 416 air contaminant events (or 2.2 events every 1,000,000 aircraft hours) that may have taken place in commercial transports within the United States between January 1978 and December 1999.

FAA is responsible for setting design standards for aircraft ventilation systems. To fulfill its responsibilities, FAA requires that manufacturers design and build their large commercial airplanes to meet specific engineering standards, which limit the amounts of certain air quality contaminants (e.g., carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and ozone) that can be present in an airliner cabin. Manufacturers comply with these engineering standards in order to have FAA certify their airplanes as airworthy. However, while FAA monitors overall aircraft system operations, it does not require airlines to monitor cabin air quality during their operations to determine if air quality during routine flight operations is meeting the agency’s engineering standards. According to FAA, the certification requirements combined with the monitoring of overall aircraft system operations are sufficient. However, the 2001 Council report stated that because of a lack of data it was not able to answer questions about the extent to which aircraft ventilation systems are operated properly.

Despite a Number of Studies, Data Are Lacking About the Effects of Air Quality On Cabin Occupants

Passengers and flight attendants have had long-standing concerns about negative health effects from the quality of air in airliner cabins; however, research to date, including two reports by the Council, has not been able to definitively link the broad, nonspecific health complaints of passengers and flight attendants to possible causes, including cabin air quality. In its most recent report, the Council concluded that critical questions about the potential effect of cabin air quality on the health of cabin occupants remain unanswered because existing data are inadequate, and it recommended further research to narrow this knowledge gap.

Passengers and flight attendants (cabin occupants) have long complained of acute and chronic health effects during and after flying. Many complaints made by cabin occupants are relatively minor, such as dry eyes and nose, or the onset of colds soon after flying, but others are much more serious. According to the Association of Flight Attendants, its members have reported such health problems as respiratory diseases, nausea, dizziness, muscle tremors, nervous system damage, and memory loss. The association notes that these illnesses are consistent with exposure to carbon monoxide, pesticides, reduced oxygen levels, neurotoxins, and ozone gas, all of which can be present in the cabin itself or in cabin air supplies, depending on the flight. In addition, passengers with certain medical conditions can be at higher risk from the quality of cabin air than the general population due to air contaminants, lowered oxygen levels in the body (hypoxia), and changes in cabin pressure. Such medical conditions include limited lung capacity (e.g., asthma) and cardiovascular and circulatory disorders. Those who fly soon after surgery are particularly vulnerable to changes in cabin pressure. However, according to the Council report, many of the complaints made by cabin occupants are so broad and nonspecific that they could have many causes, and it is difficult to determine a specific illness or syndrome.

Although numerous studies have been conducted on cabin air quality issues, there are insufficient data to determine the nature and extent of cabin air quality’s effect on cabin occupants. Council reports published in 1986 and 2001 reviewed the literature on cabin air quality issues and concluded that the studies had not collected data in a systematic manner that would conclusively address many of the questions about potential exposures in aircraft cabins and their health effects. Both reports recommended actions for improving what is known about cabin air quality, including the need to collect better data on the potential effect of cabin air quality on passenger and cabin crew health. The 2001 report concluded that available data on air quality and its possible negative effects on cabin occupant health have left three critical outstanding questions unaddressed and that additional research is needed: Do current aircraft as operated comply with FAA design and operational limits for ventilation rate and for chemical contaminants, including ozone, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide, and are the existing air quality regulations adequate to protect health and ensure the comfort of passengers and cabin crew?

What is the association, if any, between exposure to cabin air contaminants and reports or observations of adverse health effects in cabin crew and passengers?

What are the frequency and severity of incidents when air contaminants enter the cabin due to nonroutine conditions such as oil leaks or other engine malfunctions?

Following the 1986 report, the Department of Transportation sponsored a study to evaluate the health risks posed by exposures to contaminants on randomly selected flights. In addition, various researchers conducted a number of studies of cabin air quality issues, including eight investigations of biological agents, such as viruses and bacteria, on commercial aircraft. However, these and other studies were not able to link the broad, nonspecific health complaints that passengers and cabin crew continued to make to possible causes, including cabin air quality.

Recognizing the need for more data on the issue, Congress directed FAA, in AIR-21, to request that the Council perform another independent examination of cabin air quality. The Council’s report, issued in 2001, concluded that when operated properly, the environmental control system should provide an ample supply of air to pressurize the cabin, meet general comfort conditions, and dilute or reduce normally occurring odors, heat, and contaminants. However, the Council also found that the design standard for ventilation rates in aircraft required by FAA was less than one-half to two-thirds the rate recommended by ASHRAE for buildings. The Council noted that whether the building ventilation standard is appropriate for the aircraft cabin environment has not been established. Studies have shown that low ventilation rates in buildings have contributed to “sick building syndrome,” which causes fatigue, headache, and throat irritation. However, FAA officials told us that a sick building syndrome comparison is not applicable, in part because HEPA filtration results in much cleaner recirculated air than in a building environment.

The 2001 Council report also found that although the environmental control system in aircraft is designed to provide adequate air pressure and minimize the concentration of contaminants in the cabin, passengers and cabin crew are potentially exposed to air quality-related health risks. The Council was particularly concerned about two cabin air characteristics and suggested that they be given high priority for further investigation. The first is reduced oxygen partial pressure, which results from the lower air pressures present in aircraft cabins at cruise altitudes. Most healthy individuals are unaffected by reduced oxygen partial pressure, but those with health problems such as cardiopulmonary disease and infants can experience serious health effects from a lack of oxygen (e.g., respiratory stress). The other concern of the Council was elevated concentrations of ozone, which can occur at high cruise altitudes over certain areas of earth, such as the Arctic. The Council reported that unacceptably high ozone levels could occur in passenger cabins of commercial aircraft in the absence of effective controls. FAA allows aircraft operators to maintain cabin ozone concentrations at or below prescribed limits through flight planning that avoids areas with ozone concentrations exceeding those limits or the installation of devices that convert ozone to oxygen. However, FAA does not have a process in place to ensure that ozone converters are installed in all aircraft that fly routes where ozone may pose a risk or that converters in service are operating properly.

The Council also had what it termed moderate concern about several other potential air quality-related exposures on aircraft, but it noted that there were little data available on the frequency at which they occur. For example, according to the Council, infectious agents, such as viruses and bacteria, were likely present on aircraft, and high occupant densities could increase the risk of transmittal. The Council observed, however, that air recirculation did not increase the risk of transmittal, especially in systems using HEPA filters. Likewise, the Council noted that airborne allergens, such as cat dander, could pose problems for passengers with sensitivities. In addition, when aircraft are on the ground, according to the Council, passengers can be exposed to contaminants from engine exhaust, such as carbon monoxide and other outdoor air pollutants, including ozone and particulate matter, when they are pulled into the aircraft through the ventilation system. Also of some concern to the Council were incidents when lubricating and hydraulic fluids seep into the aircraft ventilation system during engine and other system malfunctions. Although such occurrences are rare, and the actual exposure to contaminants resulting from them is unknown, lubricating and hydraulic fluids contain substances that can pose neurological health risks to passengers and cabin crew if they are present in sufficient concentrations and for a sufficient length of time. Finally, the Council was somewhat concerned about exposures to the pesticide spraying that takes place on some international flights, which can cause skin rashes and other health effects. Table 1 summarizes information presented by the Council on the potential air quality-related exposures on aircraft.

Since the issuance of the 2001 Council report, some limited studies have examined specific air quality issues, such as infectious disease transmission, but they have raised as many questions as they have answered. For example, according to a revised 2003 WHO report on tuberculosis (TB) and air travel, as of August 2003, no case of active TB has been identified as resulting from exposure while on a commercial aircraft. The report did note, however, that there is some evidence that transmission of TB may occur during long flights (i.e., more than 8 hours) from an infectious source (passenger or crew) to other passengers or crewmembers. In 2002, the American Medical Association did not find any evidence that aircraft cabin air recirculation increases the risk for upper respiratory tract infection (URI) symptoms in passengers traveling aboard commercial jets. However, passengers had higher incidents of URI infections than the general public within a week after completing their trips. One of the study’s authors noted that the research indicated that while flying increases the risk of getting colds or other infections, an aircraft’s ventilation system may not be a key factor. A 2003 study appearing in the New England Journal of Medicine found that SARS transmissions may occur on flights carrying people in the symptomatic stages of the disease. (See app. II for more details on this study.)

FAA has Taken Action to Address Council Recommendations On Cabin Air Quality, but These Efforts Could Be Improved

The December 2001 Council report on airliner cabin air quality made 10 recommendations about air quality standards for the cabins of commercial airliners and the need for more information concerning the health effects of cabin air. Nine of these recommendations were directed to FAA, and it has implemented them to varying degrees. The Council report’s 10 recommendations focused on five aspects of cabin air quality and its environment: (1) the establishment of cabin air quality surveillance and research programs, (2) FAA’s oversight of the operation of aircraft ventilation systems, (3) exposures on aircraft due to the transport of small animals in aircraft cabins, (4) distribution of health related information, and (5) recommended procedures as a result of a ventilation system shutdown. Although one recommendation asked Congress to designate a lead federal agency for conducting airliner cabin air quality research, most of the recommendations were directed at or involved FAA. Table 2 describes each of the Council report recommendations and FAA’s response.

FAA formed the Airliner Cabin Environment Report Response Team to review the findings of the NRC report on airliner cabin air quality and published a planned response in February 2002. However, many of the actions included in this plan were contingent on the formation of an aviation rulemaking advisory committee, on which the agency has deferred action. FAA subsequently updated its plans, as reflected above.

We reviewed FAA’s approach for addressing the recommendations and found that the agency has made progress on implementing some of them, including those relating to making information available on potential health issues related to cabin air quality and the risks posed to sensitive people by allergens from small animals transported in aircraft cabins; however action on others is pending. For example, recommendations to improve FAA oversight of aircraft ventilation systems are pending until completion of the ASHRAE study in late 2006 or early 2007. In implementing the Council report recommendations, FAA is attempting to balance the need to conduct additional research on the healthfulness of cabin air quality with other research priorities, such as improving passenger safety. Our prior work on airliner cabin safety and health has underscored the importance of setting risk-based research priorities, in part by establishing cost and effectiveness estimates to allow direct comparisons among competing research priorities. In commenting on this prior work, FAA cautioned that if too much emphasis is placed on cost/benefit analyses, potentially valuable research may not be undertaken. We concur in that caution. Similarly, we found that many members of the Council committee on airliner cabin air quality question FAA’s approach to implementing some of the recommendations it made, particularly those related to the committee’s principal finding that more comprehensive research on the health effects of cabin air quality is needed. Specifically, some in the aviation community have raised concerns that FAA’s planned actions for implementing the Council recommendations on cabin air quality, including its research and surveillance efforts, will not be adequate to answer long-standing questions about the nature and extent of potential health effects posed by cabin air.

Council Recommendations Calling for Cabin Air Quality Surveillance and Research Programs

To address the need for more information on the health effects of cabin air quality, the 2001 Council report made three recommendations regarding the establishment of cabin air quality surveillance and research programs. FAA, in coordination with ASHRAE, has begun to develop a program to monitor air quality on some flights and correlate this information with health data collected from passengers and cabin crews. Although this effort can provide a foundation for future research, members of the committee that produced the report are concerned that its scope is too limited to adequately answer long-standing questions concerning the association between cabin air quality and health effects.

Council Concluded That Surveillance and Research Programs Needed to Answer Outstanding Questions Concerning Cabin Air Quality

According to a committee member, the Council report’s most important recommendations are those pertaining to the establishment of cabin air quality surveillance and research programs. The report concluded that available air quality data are not adequate to address three critical questions on aircraft cabin air quality and its possible effects on cabin occupant health: Do current aircraft, as operated, comply with FAA design and operational limits for ventilation rate and for chemical contaminants, including ozone, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide, and are the existing air quality regulations adequate to protect the health and ensure the comfort of passengers and the cabin crew?

What is the association, if any, between exposure to cabin air contaminants and reports or observations of adverse health effects in cabin crew and passengers?

What are the frequency and severity of incidents when air contaminants enter the cabin due to nonroutine conditions such as oil leaks or other engine malfunctions?

To answer these questions, the Council report recommended a dual approach that includes a routine surveillance program and a more focused research program. The report said that the surveillance program should continuously monitor and record chemical contaminants, cabin pressure, temperature, and relative humidity in a representative number of flights over a period of 1 to 2 years. Thereafter, the program should continue to monitor flights to ensure accurate characterization of air quality as existing aircraft equipment ages or is upgraded. In addition to air quality monitoring, the report said the surveillance program should also include the systematic collection, analysis, and reporting of health data, with the cabin crew as the primary study group. The report said a detailed research program to investigate specific questions about the possible association between air contaminants and reported health effects should supplement the surveillance program. Among the subjects suggested for research are the factors that affect ozone concentration in cabin air and the adequacy of outside air ventilation flow rates.

FAA Has Taken the Lead in Developing Surveillance and Research Programs

In order to implement the surveillance and research programs, the report recommended that Congress designate a lead federal agency and provide sufficient funding to conduct or direct the research program to fill the major knowledge gaps. It also called for an independent advisory committee with appropriate scientific, medical, and engineering expertise to oversee the programs to ensure that the research program’s objectives are met. In response, as a part of FAA’s reauthorization, Congress designated FAA as the lead federal agency. Prior to this, FAA acted in this capacity and allocated limited funding for this effort, although, according to FAA officials, Congress provided no additional funding through fiscal year 2003 for air quality surveillance and research; however, pending legislation for fiscal year 2004 would provide $2.5 million for this effort. In addition, on March 4, 2003, FAA announced the creation of a voluntary program for air carriers, called the Aviation Safety and Health Partnership Program. Through this program, the agency intends to enter into partnership agreements with participating air carriers, which will, at a minimum, make data on their employees’ injuries and illnesses available to FAA for collection and analysis. According to FAA officials, this program has a reporting system and database available to capture air quality incidents.

In taking the lead for implementing the recommendations for surveillance and research programs, FAA has undertaken a joint effort with ASHRAE. According to FAA, this joint effort will build on a previous study conducted for FAA by NIOSH, which identified and characterized potential health issues, including respiratory effects, related to the aircraft cabin environment, but did not link the health issues to cabin conditions. The joint effort includes a surveillance and research initiative whose principal aim is to relate perceptions of discomfort or health-related symptoms that flight attendants and passengers have had to possible causal factors, including cabin and outside air quality and other factors, such as reduced air pressure, jet lag, inactivity, humidity, flight attendant duty schedule and fatigue, disruptions to circadian rhythm, stress, and noise. While FAA’s fiscal year 2004 appropriation in the research and development budget includes $2.5 million for cabin air research—including identifying bacterial and pesticide contamination and monitoring air quality incidents—it is unclear which of the cabin air quality projects outlined in the FAA reauthorization bill will be funded. Additionally, ASHRAE officials stated that the surveillance and research initiative would support ASHRAE’s ongoing efforts to develop air quality standards for commercial aircraft.

According to FAA, the surveillance and research program is to be carried out in two parts; the first started in December 2003 and the second will start in December 2004 and end in late 2006 or early 2007. In part I, air quality data will be collected on four to six flights on a minimum of two different types of aircraft, and the data will then be compared with health information gathered from surveys of passengers and crew on the flights. According to FAA and ASHRAE, the protocol and procedures developed in part I of the study will be the basis for conducting on-ground and in-flight monitoring in part II of the initiative. In part II, air quality monitoring will be conducted on different models of commercial jet airplanes representing a large section of the world fleet and will include a minimum number of flights that has not yet been determined. However, according to FAA officials, the level of funding that will be available for part II is uncertain. FAA and ASHRAE have assembled a committee which is responsible for selecting a contractor to conduct the monitoring and health surveillance in part I and overseeing the contractor’s performance. The committee consists of aircraft, health, and air quality experts, including five members of the Council committee, as well as representatives from FAA, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, and the Boeing Commercial Airplane Group. In September 2003, the committee chose a contractor for part I, and work began in December 2003. FAA and ASHRAE have not yet selected a contractor for part II, although the estimated completion date for the entire program is late 2006 or early 2007.

ASHRAE officials stated that to date FAA, Boeing, and two major U.S. airlines are supporting this effort. FAA has provided $50,000 of the estimated $250,000 it will cost to conduct air quality surveillance on two aircraft. Boeing is the major source for the balance of the funding for the surveillance program. FAA had previously reported that it was seeking a $500,000 contract with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) to develop devices to monitor the aircraft cabin environment as part of the research and surveillance program. However, the contract was not finalized because APL determined that the project would cost significantly more than $500,000 and FAA reprogrammed the funds. FAA said that it has not yet funded part II, while ASHRAE officials noted that they are planning to solicit the part I contributors again for part II once part I is under way.

Despite FAA’s efforts to date, we found that the agency has not developed a detailed plan for the research and surveillance program, including key milestones and funding estimates, in keeping with generally accepted practices for oversight and independence. In addition, the agency has not created an independent panel of experts in the areas of aircraft ventilation, air quality, and public health to help plan and oversee this effort. Furthermore, FAA’s plans do not explicitly include leveraging the findings of international research on cabin air quality.

Committee Members Concerned about Scope, Independence, and Funding of FAA Surveillance and Research Program

Members of the committee that produced the 2001 Council report are concerned that the FAA/ASHRAE surveillance and research program, as designed, will fall short of answering the long-standing questions about the effect of cabin air quality on passenger and cabin crew health and comfort. We contacted the 13 members of the committee, and 8 agreed to comment on FAA’s response to their recommendations on cabin air quality surveillance and research. We refer to these 8 individuals from here forward as commenting committee members. Although 5 of 8 commenting committee members said that the initiative should shed some light on cabin air quality’s effects on health, all said that it was much more limited than the committee had envisioned. Two of the 8 commenting committee members thought that the air quality and health surveillance initiative should be a continuous undertaking in which air quality and health information is taken from a representative sample of commercial aircraft and flight routes. They also said that it appears the FAA and ASHRAE program will not include a broad enough cross-section of aircraft and flights to determine the full range of air quality problems and relate them to health effects. Two commenting committee members said that part I of the FAA and ASHRAE program will extensively monitor cabin air quality on two aircraft types; however, part I will not provide information that is generalizable to the U.S. commercial airliner fleet. According to Boeing officials involved in this study, part I research is designed to validate test equipment and study protocols and is not designed to be generalized to the airliner fleet. One committee member said that although more aircraft are to be included in part II, it is doubtful that enough information will be collected to adequately answer the key questions the agency’s research and surveillance program was designed to address. According to Boeing officials, part II includes plans for information collection to address the key question of the agency surveillance and research program, provided sufficient funds are available. Another commenting committee member said that the FAA and ASHRAE program would also yield little or no information on air quality incidents that occur when cabin air is contaminated by oil or hydraulic fuel leaks. According to the member, these incidents are rare and can be monitored only if simple, inexpensive equipment (e.g., devices that can “grab” samples) is available to cabin crew on a large number of flights to use in the event that an incident occurs. FAA officials said that issues of sampling adequacy and specimen handling could complicate the grab sample approach. These officials also noted that a voluntary injury and illness reporting system that it has in place could capture air quality incidents if it were made mandatory.

Seven of the eight commenting committee members also noted that FAA has not adequately addressed the Council report’s recommendations regarding cabin air surveillance and research programs. FAA has indicated that its program responds to the report’s recommendations calling for surveillance and research efforts. However, these committee members believe that the program focuses only on surveillance and does not include in-depth research of air quality issues as outlined in the committee’s recommendation calling for a separate comprehensive research program.

One of the commenting committee members said that a cabin air quality study currently under way in Europe contains many of the elements that the committee had hoped to see in the U.S. surveillance and research efforts. As part of the ongoing surveillance and research study, the European cabin air study is currently coordinated by Building Research Establishment, Ltd. (BRE). The study focuses on three major goals: (1) advancing the industry’s understanding of what is known about air quality issues by assessing the current level of air quality found in aircraft cabins; (2) identifying the technology (i.e., environmental control systems including filtration and air distribution) that is available to improve cabin air quality; and (3) assessing and determining potential improvements to existing standards and performance specifications for the cabin environment. (The scope and methodology for Europe’s cabin air study is found in appendix IV). The cabin air study partnered (to various degrees) with 16 organizations, including Boeing, Airbus Deutschland, Honeywell (manufacturer of environmental control systems), Pall Aerospace (filter manufacturer), British Airways, United Kingdom’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), European Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA), and other organizations representing Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Norway, Poland, and Sweden. The European cabin air study began on January 2001 with an estimated cost of $8 million and is expected to disclose its findings in 2004.

Of the eight commenting committee members, three addressed the funding of the FAA and ASHRAE surveillance and research programs. These members said that the amount of funding available for U.S. efforts might be insufficient to conduct surveillance and research programs of the scope they envisioned in their recommendations. For example, one of the committee members stated that to conduct a surveillance and research program of the scope the Council had in mind, Congress would have to provide funding levels comparable to that of the European cabin air study.

One commenting committee member, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) officials, and airline flight attendant representatives we interviewed expressed concern that the extensive involvement of aircraft manufacturers and airlines in the design and implementation of the FAA and ASHRAE program could threaten the independence of the effort. However, with the exception of the flight attendant representatives, they agreed that any surveillance and research programs require participation by these groups. Nonetheless, they point to the fact that much of the available funding for the initiative ($200,000 of the $250,000) is coming from the aviation industry, which has a stake in the outcome, and that this might give the impression that the study lacks the necessary objectivity. The commenting committee member suggested that the research money provided by the aviation industry be placed in a special fund that would be managed by FAA or an independent research group. According to ATA officials, due to a lack of public funding on a scale comparable to what has been provided for Europe’s cabin air study, the financial support and cooperation of aircraft manufacturers and airlines is essential if FAA is to conduct this research. In addition, Boeing officials stressed that the project funding is currently controlled by ASHRAE and the project oversight committee is led by the chairman of the Council study.

Five of the commenting committee members also discussed the status of their recommendation concerning the need for Congress to designate a lead federal agency and advisory committee for the air quality research effort. Although Congress designated FAA as the lead agency in November 2003, FAA had already assumed responsibility for implementing the research and surveillance-related recommendations. In commenting on the Council recommendation to designate a lead federal agency, several members said they thought that the lead agency should be one that is experienced in conducting scientific research on air quality and environmental health issues. Some noted that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has supported a large body of research into air quality issues, and another pointed out that NIOSH has performed studies of air quality in buildings and the workplace. Several commenting members indicated that although it is FAA’s mission to promote aviation safety, they had reservations about whether the agency was well suited to oversee a large air quality research program on its own. Several members thought that, as an alternative, FAA might be part of a cooperative federal effort to perform airliner cabin air quality research. In addition, another committee member believes that although FAA has a committee to oversee the selection of the contractor for the program, it has not assembled an advisory committee to review the research design and monitor the implementation of the program.

Council’s Recommendations Concerning FAA Oversight of Aircraft Ventilation Systems

Four of the Council recommendations pertain to FAA’s oversight of the operation of aircraft ventilation systems. These recommendations call for FAA to (1) demonstrate in public reports the adequacy of its regulations related to cabin air quality and establish operational standards for ventilation systems, (2) ensure that standards for ozone levels are met on all flights, (3) investigate the need for and feasibility of installing equipment to clean the air supplied to aircraft ventilation systems, and 4) require carbon monoxide monitors in air supply ducts to passenger cabins and establish procedures for dealing with elevated carbon monoxide concentrations. According to FAA officials, the agency originally planned to have an aviation rulemaking advisory committee assess whether current standards were appropriate for ensuring that aircraft ventilation systems adequately prevent contamination of cabin air. However, FAA decided to defer this action until data is available from the surveillance and research study, as well as the European cabin air study. Additionally, FAA believes that data from this study will aid in the reconsideration of air quality standards for commercial aircraft. However, most of the commenting committee members questioned the need for delay in addressing some of the recommendations.

Four of the eight commenting committee members said that they recommended that FAA demonstrate, in public records, the rationale for the established design standards for carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO), ozone (O), ventilation, and cabin pressure because FAA was unable to explain the reasoning for these standards. For example, FAA has not documented the reasons for setting the ventilation rate standard for aircraft cabins of new aircraft types at .55 pounds of outside air per minute per occupant. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air- Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recommends that ventilation rates inside a building environment be at least 1.1 pounds of outside air per minute per occupant, which is about 50 percent more than the current FAA requirement for aircraft. In addition, FAA has not documented the reasons for requiring a design for cabin air pressure altitude of not more than 8,000 feet air pressure, which is about three-fourths of the air pressure found at sea level. Members of the research community, including the Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA) and CAA, state that the loss of air pressure and oxygen may pose serious health risks for infants whose lungs have not fully developed and for older adults who may have upper respiratory problems.

In response to the committee members’ comments, FAA provided us the following explanations for the design standards in question. The ventilation rate standard was based on a regulatory value established decades ago, which has been shown to be acceptable, and ASHRAE has formed a subcommittee to develop a standard specifically for airplanes. The limit for carbon monoxide concentration of 1 part in 20,000 parts air (0.005 percent) was adopted from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and ASHRAE standards. The limit of maximum allowable carbon dioxide concentration in occupied areas of transport category airplanes was reduced to 0.5 percent in part due to a recommendation from the National Academy of Sciences to review the carbon dioxide limit in airplane cabins; it provides a cabin carbon dioxide concentration level representative of that recommended by some authorities for buildings. The ozone limits were based on studies conducted by the FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute and are comparable to standards adopted by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The cabin pressure altitude standard was based on the accepted industry practice of maintaining the health and safety of occupants while considering the structural limitations of the aircraft.

A commenting committee member also expressed concern that FAA certifies aircraft ventilation systems that are designed to meet certain standards, such as those for ventilation rates, but it does not require that systems operate in accordance with these standards. The practical effect is that aircraft are not monitored to determine if they meet the design standards. According to another commenting committee member, FAA did not need data from the planned research project to provide a rationale for ventilation system standards, or to require that ventilation systems operate according to standards. Some committee members also said that FAA could begin to take steps to ensure that ozone standards are met on all flights regardless of altitude and require monitors for dangerous carbon monoxide vapors in air supply ducts to passenger cabins before the completion of the planned research study. FAA officials said that although it does not conduct recurrent system design compliance checks, the agency uses various reporting systems to monitor aircraft system performance and takes appropriate mandatory action when an unsafe condition is found.

Council Recommendation Concerning Airborne Allergens

Because of the potential for serious health effects for people sensitive to allergens, the 2001 Council report also recommended that FAA investigate the need to prohibit the transport of small animals in aircraft cabins and provide training to cabin crews to deal with allergic reactions. However, FAA does not think that prohibiting animals in the cabin would be effective because it believes that most animal allergens are brought onboard aircraft on the clothes of passengers rather than by the animals themselves. Instead, the agency issued an advisory circular highlighting the effective procedures that passengers can use when carrying animals and guidance on how to train crewmembers to recognize and respond to in-flight medical events that result from exposure to allergens. Additionally, FAA will enhance its Internet site to provide general information related to FAA and air carrier policy concerning the transport of animals in aircraft cabins. Commenting committee members generally supported FAA’s approach to this recommendation.

Council Recommendation Concerning Health Information

In response to the Council report recommendation calling for FAA to increase efforts to provide cabin crew, passengers, and health professionals with information on health issues related to air travel, FAA modified the general information section of its Web site; however, we found that the traveler health information is not easy to access. FAA created hyperlinks to other Web sites, such as those of the Aerospace Medical Association and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which include information on potential health risks of flying, particularly for health- challenged individuals. However, we found it difficult to locate the section of the FAA Web site that deals with traveler health information and when we did, it required several steps to reach the hyperlinks. Some commenting committee members also noted how difficult it is to access health-related information on the FAA Web site. In addition to citing the need for FAA to increase the accessibility of health-related information on its Web site, six of the eight committee members also mentioned that FAA should take further steps to make health information available to the flying public. Suggestions included having airlines include health related information on their Web sites and establishing a program to provide flying-related heath risk information to physicians that they could then share with their patients (e.g., through brochures).

Council Recommendation Concerning Aircraft Ventilation System Shutdown

FAA responded to the 2001 Council report recommendation that it establish a regulation to require removal of passengers from an aircraft within 30 minutes after a ventilation failure or shutdown on the ground by issuing an advisory circular to airlines. Some commenting committee members viewed this action as insufficient. This recommendation reiterated one made in the 1986 Council report, which FAA did not act on. The committees that produced both the 1986 and 2001 reports noted that environmental conditions in an aircraft cabin respond quickly to changes in ventilation system operation. The committees felt that the ventilation system should not be shut down for a long period when the aircraft is occupied, except in the case of an emergency, because excessive contaminant concentrations and uncomfortably high temperatures can occur quickly. Several commenting committee members told us that they felt strongly that FAA should require passenger removal in the event of ventilation system shutdown of more than 30 minutes and that advising airlines that this should be done was insufficient to accomplish the committee’s objective. FAA, on the other hand, said that airlines pay close attention to advisories. The agency decided against issuing a regulation because there are situations when an evacuation within 30 minutes is not possible due to operational necessity, such as when a ventilation system breakdown occurs on a taxiway far from a gate.

Some Technologies Exist for Improving Cabin Air Quality, but There Are Questions About Whether They Should be Required

Several technologies exist today that could improve cabin air quality, but opinions vary on whether requiring the use of improved technologies in commercial airliner cabins is warranted. We found one of these technologies, HEPA filters, is strongly endorsed by cabin air quality and health experts as providing the best possible protection against one cabin air problem—the presence of particulates, bacteria, and viruses in recirculated air. While FAA does not currently require HEPA filters, some health experts believe these filters should be required, given their demonstrated effectiveness in cleansing cabin air. Figure 3 illustrates a typical HEPA filter for commercial passenger aircraft.

According to many in the aviation community, several technologies are available today, and more are in the planning stages, that could improve the air quality in commercial airliner cabins. However, some in the aviation industry question whether requiring their use is warranted. Filtering particulates, bacteria, viruses, and gaseous pollutants and removing ozone can improve the healthfulness of cabin air, and increasing cabin humidity and absorbing more cabin odors and gasses can increase the comfort of passengers and cabin crews. While aircraft manufacturers acknowledge that a few technologies are available today that could further improve air quality and comfort in airliner cabins and that more are possible in the future, they believe that unless future research proves otherwise, the ventilation systems in the aircraft they have produced provide ample amounts of relatively clean air. One technology with proven effectiveness is HEPA filtering of recycled cabin air. All new large commercial airliners in production with ventilation systems that recirculate cabin air come equipped with these filters, which, when properly fitted and maintained, are effective at capturing airborne contaminants such as viruses that enter the re-circulation system. However, some regional jets, which have fewer than 100 seats, are not equipped with filters, and some older large aircraft still use less efficient filters. FAA does not require the filtration of recirculated air, but health experts and members of the committee that produced the 2001 report on cabin air quality believe that given their proven effectiveness, HEPA filters should be required for all aircraft that recirculate cabin air. In addition, airflow rates could be increased in some aircraft by adjusting settings on the ventilation system, thereby dissipating the effects of some contaminants. However, this would be done at the expense of higher fuel consumption, increased engine emissions, and lower cabin humidity.

High Efficiency Particulate Filters Are an Effective Technology for Cleaning Recirculated Air

HEPA filters are a readily available and affordable technology for providing the best possible protection against one cabin air problem—the presence of particulates, bacteria, and viruses in recirculated air. However, HEPA filters will not filter gaseous contaminants. These filters have become widely available for aircraft since the late 1990s. According to EPA, HEPA filters can remove nearly all particulate contaminants, such as airborne particles and infectious agents including bacteria and viruses, from the recirculated air that passes through them. A manufacturer of HEPA filters, as well as health authorities such as CDC, NIOSH, and WHO, believe that HEPA filters are highly effective in preventing the transmission of bacteria and viruses through aircraft ventilation systems. However, they emphasize that HEPA filters clean only the air that is recirculated through aircraft ventilation systems, so transmissions from an infected person to others nearby are still possible.

HEPA filters are available for most large commercial airliners in the U.S. fleet, but some aircraft with recirculation systems are equipped with less effective filters. However, not all commercial aircraft recirculate air through their ventilation systems. For example, some smaller jets, such as the Boeing 717 and Bombardier CRJ-200s, which typically fly shorter routes, as well as older models of some longer-range aircraft, such as the Boeing 737-200 and the DC-10, provide 100 percent outside air to the passenger cabins instead of recirculating air and, therefore, would not need HEPA filters. Nevertheless, most commercial airliners in use today recirculate between 30 and 55 percent of the air provided to the passenger cabin. Officials from Boeing and Airbus, the world’s two largest manufacturers of commercial aircraft, told us that all their aircraft with recirculation systems currently in production are equipped with HEPA filters. The ventilation systems in many older commercial aircraft were designed to use the less effective filters available at the time, and some of these aircraft still use these types of filters. However, according to Boeing and Airbus officials, HEPA filters can be used on these older aircraft with little or no retrofitting required. According to a filter manufacturer, a HEPA filter costs about twice as much (e.g., $400 to $600 for the smaller narrow-body aircraft) as the non-HEPA models that are less effective in trapping particulates. Some regional jets, such as the Embraer ERJ-145 recirculate air but are not equipped with filters.

In fact, FAA does not require the filtration of recirculated air on aircraft. However, when manufacturers voluntarily equip their aircraft models that recirculate cabin air with HEPA or other filters when they are certified for flight by FAA, as most do, the aircraft are required to continue operating with the filters. The schedule for changing the filters is also included in the FAA certification process. Airlines typically change HEPA filters after 4,000 to 12,000 hours of service to maintain good airflow and in accordance with manufacturers’ recommendations.

Little information has previously been available on the extent of HEPA filter usage in commercial aircraft ventilation systems, though the Council report and many in the health community have pointed to the importance of HEPA filters in preventing the spread of bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants in aircraft cabins. As noted earlier in this report, the 2001 Council report recommended that FAA investigate and publicly report on the need for installing equipment to clean the air supplied to aircraft cabin ventilation systems. In the report, the committee did not determine how many larger aircraft were equipped with HEPA filters, and regional jets were not within the scope of its study. However, the report concluded that HEPA filters are highly effective in removing all airborne pathogens and other particulate matter that pass through them. The report further stated that the use of recirculated air in aircraft cabins when combined with effective HEPA filtration does not contribute to the spread of infectious agents. Members of the research community, including those from NIOSH, as well as the Association of Flight Attendants, have noted that given the proven effectiveness of HEPA filters in capturing contaminants such as infectious viruses and bacteria, FAA should require their use on all aircraft with recirculation systems.

To determine the extent of HEPA filter usage in the United Stares, we surveyed the largest 14 airlines in the United States that had Airbus, Boeing, or McDonnell Douglas aircraft that recirculate cabin air, and we received responses from 12 airlines. Of the 3,038 aircraft for which we were able to obtain survey results, 15 percent (454 aircraft) did not use HEPA filters. All of the aircraft that did not use HEPA filters were older out-of-production models that used less effective filters. One airline has plans to retrofit a small number of these aircraft with HEPA filters.

We were also able to obtain some information on HEPA filter usage in the U.S. regional aircraft fleet by contacting the manufacturers of these aircraft. We found that 69 percent of these regional aircraft recycle cabin air (1,087 of 1,584), and only a handful of these aircraft are equipped with HEPA filters. The manufacturer of a new regional jet model offers HEPA filters as an option. Information we obtained from two airlines that had 29 of these aircraft indicated that about half (14 of 29) were equipped with HEPA filters.

We also found that 90 percent of the regional aircraft (973 of 1,087 aircraft) that recycled cabin air would require modifications to be retrofitted with HEPA filters. Most of these aircraft (73 percent) had no provision for installing filters in their air ducts.

Consideration has also been given to filtering outside air entering an aircraft’s ventilation system. Outside air at cruise altitudes is mainly free of pollutants, except for ozone. However, in the event of an engine or hydraulic system malfunction, outside air can become contaminated before it enters the ventilation system. In addition, when an aircraft is at the gate or taxiing, the available outside air contains pollutants normally present around the airport, including exhaust from other aircraft on the runway. For these reasons, the 2001 Council report recommended that FAA investigate the need for and feasibility of installing air-cleaning equipment for removing particles and vapors from the air supplied to the ventilation system. As previously noted, FAA has put off consideration of this recommendation until the completion of FAA’s and ASHRAE’s air quality research and surveillance program in 2006 or 2007. One manufacturer did begin installing outside air filtering equipment on one of its models in 1992. British Aerospace began equipping its BAe 146 aircraft (now out of production) with outside air filters as part of an effort to reduce cabin odors. Other manufacturers, including Boeing and Airbus, contend that outside air filtration is not necessary unless U.S. and European research indicates a problem with the quality of air entering aircraft ventilation systems.

Technology is Available to Remove Ozone from the Air Brought in from Outside the Aircraft

Technologies are currently available for removing ozone from outside air. Ozone is present in the air at high altitudes on some routes, particularly those over the polar regions, and FAA requires that the airlines that fly these routes take measures to maintain cabin ozone levels at or below prescribed limits (e.g., using devices that convert ozone to oxygen). According to ATA officials, nearly all commercial aircraft that fly on these routes are so equipped. However, the Council report said that although FAA requires that ozone concentrations in aircraft cabins be maintained within specified limits, surveillance programs with accurate and reliable equipment are needed to ensure compliance and that the ozone converter equipment works properly. One study attributed elevated ozone levels that exceeded FAA limits to temporary ozone plumes that can appear unexpectedly. In November 2000, the British House of Lords, in a study of health issues in aircraft cabins, made a recommendation that airlines fit their aircraft that fly on routes where these plumes occur with ozone converters to minimize potential health problems. The Council report also identified the need for FAA to take effective measures to ensure that ozone does not exceed levels specified in FAA regulations, regardless of altitude. As noted earlier, FAA plans to monitor ozone levels in selected aircraft as part of its surveillance and research program. However, some committee members told us that the effort will be too limited to enable FAA to determine if ozone is present on aircraft not fitted with converters or whether ozone converters are working properly.

Increasing Ventilation Rates in Aircraft Cabins Poses Challenges

Increasing ventilation rates on aircraft to levels approximating those currently required in buildings would pose technological challenges, and aircraft manufacturers believe such increases are not necessary. Raising ventilation rates would reduce the effects of some airborne contaminants by diluting their concentration.

According to Boeing and Airbus officials, airflow rates on their aircraft could be slightly increased by adjusting settings on the ventilation systems, but such adjustments would increase fuel consumption and result in higher operating costs. According to Boeing officials, to achieve the same airflow rates recommended for buildings, aircraft ventilation systems, and possibly the aircraft themselves, would have to undergo expensive modifications. Boeing and Airbus believe that unless the U.S. and European research and surveillance initiatives prove otherwise, ventilation rates in commercial aircraft are sufficient to sustain passenger and cabin crew comfort and health.

Boeing and Airbus officials told us that they are always seeking to improve the aircraft they build, but they believe that the ventilation systems in the aircraft they produce provide a healthy and relatively comfortable environment for passengers and cabin crew. Nevertheless, Boeing is considering increasing the air pressure and humidity levels on the 7E7, its proposed long-range, high-altitude aircraft. Airbus will also offer an improved air ventilation system on its new large aircraft, the A380. Because of the competitive nature of the aircraft manufacturing industry, few details are available on the 7E7 and A380 ventilation systems. Boeing and Airbus officials noted that if current research and surveillance efforts indicate problems with any aspects of the ventilation systems in their aircraft, they would work toward developing the necessary technologies to deal with these problems.

Conclusions

The combined research efforts of FAA and ASHRAE on cabin air quality will provide a foundation of knowledge, according to some members of the committee that produced the 2001 Council report on cabin air quality. However, as currently designed and funded, these efforts may not answer many long-standing questions about the effect of air quality on cabin occupants’ health and comfort. FAA is attempting to balance the need to conduct additional research on the healthfulness of cabin air quality with other research priorities, such as improving passenger safety. Our prior work on airliner cabin safety and health has underscored the importance of setting risk-based research priorities, in part by establishing cost and effectiveness estimates to allow direct comparisons among competing research priorities. In commenting on this prior work, FAA cautioned that if too much emphasis is placed on cost/benefit analyses, potentially valuable research may not be undertaken. We concur in that caution. However, information on the nature and extent of health effects from cabin air is needed in order to identify potential health threats so that it can be determined if action is warranted to improve cabin air quality and to target research and development accordingly. Moreover, committee members recommended more study of these issues, and others in the industry have concerns about FAA’s surveillance and research program as currently conceived. Committee members were particularly concerned about FAA’s decision to delay action on ensuring that air quality regulations are adequate or being met on all flights. In addition, the agency’s current plan to monitor cabin air quality on only two aircraft types during part I of its program will not provide FAA with information that is generalizable to the U.S. commercial airliner fleet. Thus, key questions that the agency’s research and surveillance program were designed to address will remain unanswered if part II of FAA’s program is not properly designed and adequately funded. Such information is also needed to guide the development of new technologies. Given the importance of this research and surveillance effort, the program needs to be well designed, properly funded, coordinated with international cabin air quality research efforts such as those ongoing in Europe and Australia, and conducted in accordance with accepted standards for independence and oversight. The Council in its 2001 report recommended that Congress designate a federal agency to conduct or direct the cabin air quality research program and recent legislation assigned FAA as the lead federal agency for this effort. FAA has begun a surveillance and research program on its own.

Furthermore, FAA has not taken steps to ensure that HEPA filters, which are a proven technology for eliminating some contaminants such as viruses and bacteria from recirculated cabin air, are used as widely as possible on commercial aircraft. FAA does not currently require the use of filters on recirculated air. Nevertheless, we found that a number of aircraft manufacturers and airlines voluntarily install them and that the vast majority of larger commercial aircraft are equipped with HEPA filters. However, we also found that only a few smaller regional jets that recirculate cabin air have HEPA or any other type of filters. FAA has decided to delay addressing the 2001 Council report recommendation calling for the agency to investigate the need for air cleaning equipment on aircraft ventilation systems until it completes its cabin air quality surveillance and research program in 2006 or 2007. FAA needs to determine the costs and benefits of requiring HEPA filters on commercial aircraft that recirculate air.

Finally, although FAA has made some progress in implementing the Council’s recommendation regarding the need to increase the availability of information on health issues related to air travel, more needs to be done. Creating links on the FAA Web site to pertinent information on the CDC and WHO Web sites is a good start, but navigating the FAA’s Web site to reach these links is difficult. In addition to improving the user friendliness of the FAA Web site links, some commenting committee members suggested that FAA should consider other methods for disseminating information on the health risks of flying, such as providing brochures for physicians to use when discussing these issues with patients.

Recommendations for Executive Action

To help ensure that FAA’s research and surveillance efforts on airliner cabin air quality answer critical outstanding questions about the nature and extent of potential health effects of cabin air quality on passengers and flight attendants, GAO recommends that the Secretary of Transportation direct the FAA Administrator to develop a detailed plan for the research and surveillance efforts, including key milestones and funding estimates, in accordance with generally accepted practices for oversight and independence; appoint a committee of acknowledged experts in the fields of aircraft ventilation and public health, including representatives of EPA and NIOSH, to assist in planning and overseeing the research and surveillance efforts recommended by the National Research Council in 2001; leverage the findings of international research on airliner cabin air quality to inform FAA’s surveillance and research efforts; and report to Congress annually on the progress and findings of the research and surveillance efforts and funding needs.

In order to help improve the healthfulness of cabin air for commercial aircraft passengers and cabin crews, the FAA Administrator should assess the costs and benefits of requiring the use of HEPA filters on commercial aircraft with ventilation systems that recirculate cabin air. If FAA chooses to require the use of HEPA filters, it should also ensure that the regulation covers the maintenance requirements for these filters.

In addition, to increase access to information on the health risks related to air travel, the FAA Administrator should direct the staff responsible for the FAA Web site to improve the links to other Web sites containing this information. The Administrator should also consult with medical associations and health organizations, such as CDC, on other ways to increase the dissemination of this information.

Agency Comments

We provided copies of a draft of this report to the Department of Transportation for review and comment. FAA generally agreed with the report’s contents and its recommendations. The agency provided us with oral comments, primarily technical clarifications, which we have incorporated as appropriate.

As agreed with your office, unless you publicly announce the contents of this report earlier, we plan no further distribution until 30 days from the report date. At that time, we will send copies of this report to interested congressional committees, the Secretary of Transportation, and the Administrator, FAA. We will also make copies available to others upon request. In addition, the report will be available at no charge on the GAO Web site at http://www.gao.gov.

Please call me at (202) 512-2834 if you or your staff have any questions concerning this report. Major contributors to this report are listed in appendix VI.

Objectives, Scope, and Methodology

The Ranking Democratic Member of the Subcommittee on Aviation, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, asked us to provide information on steps that the aviation community is taking to address concerns about cabin air quality. Specifically, our research focused on the following questions: (1) What is known about the major potential health effects of air quality in commercial airliner cabins on passengers and flight attendants? (2) What actions has the National Research Council recommended to improve cabin air quality, and what is the status of those actions? (3) What technologies are available today to improve the air quality in commercial airliner cabins, and which, if any, should be required?

To answer the first question, we reviewed the December 2001 National Research Council report on aircraft cabin air quality, which was the most current and comprehensive examination of the existing literature on this issue and made recommendations for potential approaches for improving cabin air quality. We also independently reviewed many of the studies on issues related to cabin air quality, paying particular attention to those issued after the publication of the 2001 Council report. We also gathered information from the governments of Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom and airlines. We also interviewed officials representing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA), the Air Transport Association (ATA), the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), the International Airline Passengers Association (IAPA), aircraft and air filter manufacturers, as well as experts on cabin air quality issues, including members of the committee that produced the 2001 Council report on cabin air quality.

To address the second question, we interviewed Council committee members about their views on how FAA was addressing the recommendations they made in their report. Before conducting the interviews, we provided the committee members with information from FAA on its plans for addressing the Council’s recommendation. We then asked them for their views on the approach for addressing each of the recommendations. We conducted interviews with 11 of the 13 committee members; we were unable to contact 2 members. Of the 11 members we interviewed, 8 agreed to provide their views on at least some of the recommendations. Three members declined to address any of the recommendations, saying that they were outside their fields of expertise and that they had not followed the progress of FAA’s implementation of the recommendations.

To address the third question, we interviewed representatives of aircraft manufacturers, filter manufacturers, FAA officials, and experts on aircraft ventilation systems, including members of the committee. To determine HEPA filter usage, we first identified the 28 airlines that account for 99.94 percent of the revenue passenger miles (RPM) flown by U.S. airlines as reported in Aviation Daily for May 2003.

A revenue passenger mile is a standard unit of passenger demand for air transport, defined as one fare-paying passenger transported one mile.

Our primary focus with the larger aircraft was to determine the HEPA filter usage for the 3,422 larger aircraft that recycled cabin air. To obtain this information, we surveyed the 14 airlines that had aircraft in this category and obtained responses from 12 (covering 3,038 of the 3,422 aircraft in this category). Our survey form, which we administered by e-mail, asked the airlines to provide the following information: the number of active aircraft by model type as of June 30, 2003; the number of active aircraft with HEPA filters; the number of active aircraft without HEPA filters; the reasons why HEPA filters are not used; and, if applicable, the types of filters used if other than HEPA filters.

Our primary focus with the regional aircraft was to determine what percentage of these aircraft recycled air, and, for those aircraft that did recycle air, what percentage would require major modifications to be retrofitted with a HEPA filter. We were able to make this determination on the basis of information provided by the manufacturers. Because only a small portion of the regional aircraft that recycle air are capable of being fitted with HEPA filters, we did not survey the 13 airlines that had only regional aircraft. In the cases where returned surveys also included information on regional aircraft that could use HEPA filters with little or no retrofitting, we found that only a small portion were doing so.

Biographical Information on the National Research Council Committee

Professor of environmental medicine and director of the Center for Particulate Matter Health Effects Research and of the Human Exposure and Health Effects Research Program at New York University School of Medicine.

Associate professor of environmental microbiology at the Harvard School of Public Health. Dr. Burge’s current area of research is on the role of environmental exposures in the development of asthma and evaluating exposure to fungi, dust mite, cockroach, and cat allergens in three separate epidemiology studies assessing risk factors for the development of asthma.

Associate dean for Research and Graduate Programs and director of the Engineering Experiment Station at the College of Engineering, Kansas State University. Dr. Jones’s research interests are in heat and mass transfer, human thermal systems simulation, and thermal measurements and instrumentation.

Air pollution research specialist with the Division of Environmental and Occupational Disease Control of the California Department of Health Services. Her research has focused on the evaluation of methods to collect and identify airborne biological material and on engineering measures to control airborne infectious and hypersensitivity diseases.

Professor in the Department of Environmental Health, Industrial Hygiene and Safety Program of the University of Washington and director of the Northwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety. His research is focused on human response to inhalation of air contaminants, including the products of combustion and volatile solvents, and has encompassed both ambient air contaminants and occupational environmental health hazards.

Professor of environmental engineering in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of the University of California, Berkeley. His main research interest is indoor air quality, with emphasis on pollutant- surface interactions, transport/mixing phenomena, aerosols, environmental tobacco smoke, source characterization, exposure assessment, and control techniques.

Executive director of the Aerospace Medical Association in Alexandria, Virginia, retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1989 with the rank of colonel after a military medical career.

The Akira Yamaguchi Professor of Environmental Health and Human Habitation and director of the Environmental Science and Engineering Program at the Harvard School of Public Health. Dr. Spengler’s research is focused on assessment of population exposures to environmental contaminants that occur in homes, offices, schools, and during transit, as well as in the outdoor environment.

Professor of epidemiology in the Division of Public Health, Biology, and Epidemiology at the University of California, Berkeley, and is codirector and principal investigator for the Center for Family and Community Health. Dr. Tager’s research includes the development of exposure assessment instruments for studies of health effects of chronic ambient ozone exposure in childhood and adolescence, the effects of ozone exposure on pulmonary function, and the effects of oxidant and particulate air pollution on cardio-respiratory morbidity and mortality and morbidity from asthma in children.

Associate professor in the Department of Health Care and Epidemiology at the University of British Columbia and head of the Division of Occupational and Environmental Health. Dr. Van Netten’s research interests include environmental toxicology and the use of electrodiagnostics to monitor worker exposure to agents that affect the peripheral nervous system.

Professor of environmental medicine and pediatrics at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. His special interest and publications lie primarily in areas that involve chemical influences on behavior, including the neurobehavioral toxicology of metals such as lead, mercury, and manganese.

Adjunct professor in the Department of Environmental and Community Medicine at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School/Rutgers. His research interests, among others, include chemical interactions among indoor pollutants and the chemistry of the outdoor environment as it impacts the indoor environment.

Professor of toxicology and associate director of the Institute for Toxicology and Environmental Health at the University of California, Davis. Dr. Witschi’s research interests include experimental toxicology, biochemical pathology, and the interaction of drugs and toxic agents with organ function at the cellular level.

Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) on Board Aircraft Is Rare and Associated with Proximity

Aboard aircraft, cabin occupants are confined in close quarters for extended periods and can be exposed to infectious diseases carried by other occupants. Because air travel is rapid, people can complete their journeys before the symptoms of a disease begin. Consequently, there has been much concern regarding the in-flight transmission of contagious diseases, particularly tuberculosis and, more recently, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). As part of our review of airliner cabin air quality, we tracked the status of SARS and air travel.

SARS is a serious respiratory illness that has affected persons in Asia, North America, and Europe. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of September 26, 2003, there were an estimated 8,098 probable cases reported in 27 countries, including 29 cases in the United States. There have been 774 deaths worldwide, none of which have occurred in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) believes SARS is caused by a previously unrecognized coronavirus. The symptoms of SARS can include a fever, chills, headache, other body aches, and a dry cough.

SARS appears to be transmitted by close personal contact, which includes touching the eyes, nose, or mouth after touching the skin of infected individuals or objects that have been contaminated with infectious droplets released by an infected individual while coughing or sneezing. People with SARS pose the highest risk of transmission to household members and health care personnel in close contact. Most cases of SARS involved people who cared for or lived with someone with SARS or had direct contact with objects contaminated with infectious droplets. Information to date suggests that people are most likely to be infectious when they have symptoms such as fever or cough. However, it is not known how long before or after their symptoms begin that people with SARS might be able to transmit the disease to others. Most of the U.S. cases of SARS have occurred among travelers returning to the United States from other parts of the world affected by SARS, such as China. According to WHO, as of September 26, 2003, the latest probable case of SARS reported in the United States was on July 13, 2003. However, there is no evidence that SARS is spreading in the United States. WHO has reported that although the global outbreak of SARS has been contained, considerable uncertainty surrounds the question of whether SARS might recur, perhaps according to a seasonal pattern. Several respiratory illnesses occur much less frequently when temperature and humidity are high and then return when the weather turns cooler. WHO has also requested all countries to remain vigilant for the recurrence of SARS and to maintain their capacity to detect and respond to the reemergence of SARS, should it occur. The CDC has conducted broadcasts over the Internet for healthcare providers on preparing for the return of SARS.

WHO has reported that as of May 23, 2003, there have been 29 probable cases of in-flight SARS transmissions on four flights worldwide. Out of the 29 cases, 24 were on one flight, and 4 of the 29 cases were flight attendants. WHO has stated that since then there have been no reported cases of in- flight SARS transmissions. The WHO Director of Communicable Diseases stated there is a very low risk of catching SARS on an airplane through the airplane’s ventilation system. He noted that nearly all of the in-flight transmissions occurred between passengers who were sitting near each other. This official also stated that airport screening procedures have been effective in keeping individuals displaying SARS symptoms from boarding aircraft. In October 2003, WHO issued a report in which it did not find evidence that SARS is an airborne disease. This report further stated that at all outbreak sites the main route of transmission was direct contact, via the eyes, nose, and mouth, with infectious respiratory droplets.

According to the study, laboratory confirmed SARS developed in 16 persons, 2 others were given diagnosis of probable SARS and four were reported to have SARS but could not be interviewed by the study team. WHO reported that as of May 23, 2003, 24 probable SARS transmissions occurred on this flight. The study does not indicate the reason for the discrepancy.

22 people with illness, the mean time from the flight to the onset of symptoms was four days, and there were no recognized exposures to persons with SARS before or after the flight. The study found that illness in passengers was related to the physical proximity to the person with SARS on the flight. Illness was reported in 8 of the 23 passengers seated in the three rows in front of the person with SARS, as compared to 10 of the 88 passengers seated elsewhere on the aircraft. The study noted however, that 90 percent of the passengers who became ill on the flight were seated more than 36 inches from the person with SARS, which had been the cutoff used to define the spread of SARS droplets in other investigations. The study authors speculated that “airborne, small particle, or other remote transmission may be more straightforward explanations for the observed distribution of cases.” The study concluded that SARS transmissions may occur on flights carrying people in the symptomatic stages of the disease and that measures to reduce the risk of transmission are warranted.

In November of 2003, more than 50 leading SARS researchers from 15 countries concluded that a safe and effective vaccine would be an important complement to existing SARS control strategies. Most of the experts agreed, however, that a SARS vaccine will not be available in time, should an epidemic reoccur in the near future. A WHO official stated that the licensing and commercialization of a SARS vaccine could probably not be realized in 2004.

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), passengers are not at risk from being infected with the SARS virus from the cabin crew, who must be medically fit, without SARS symptoms, and physically capable to fly and fulfill their duties. CDC has stated that there is currently no evidence that a person can be infected with SARS from handling baggage or goods, because the primary means of infection is close personal contact. CDC has also stated the transmission of SARS has been associated with close contact with people with SARS symptoms, such as passengers on an aircraft.

The CDC has issued travel alerts and advisories for travel to areas affected by SARS. A travel advisory recommends that nonessential travel be deferred; in contrast, a travel alert informs travelers of the health concern and provides advice about specific precautions. The CDC recommends that if SARS is suspected in an outpatient setting, healthcare providers should provide and place a surgical mask over the person’s nose and mouth. The CDC further recommends that if this is not feasible, the person with SARS should be asked to cover his/her mouth with a disposable tissue when coughing, sneezing, or talking. WHO has urged airport officials in countries affected with SARS outbreaks to take precautionary screening measures, such as asking passengers if they have had contact with anyone who has had the disease. U.S. airlines that fly to Asia report that they are following CDC and WHO guidelines. FAA has links to the CDC and WHO guidelines on its Web site. U.S. airlines that do not fly internationally are not modifying their procedures because they see no SARS risk to cabin occupants. According to ATA officials, U.S. airlines that do not fly internationally were not advised by CDC to modify procedures because there was no evidence of community transmission of SARS in the United States. However, all ATA-member airlines cooperated fully with CDC in instances where there was a possible person with SARS who might have transferred from an international to a domestic flight.

European CabinAir Study: Scope and Methodology

In 2001, Building Research Establishment, Ltd. (BRE) initiated a study on cabin air quality that was estimated to cost $8 million. The following link provides the official description of the effort as posted on BRE’s Internet site: http://projects.bre.co.uk/envdiv/cabinair/work_programme.html To further the industry’s understanding of what is known about air quality issues by assessing the current level of air quality found in aircraft cabins, BRE will monitor four generic aircraft types in flight and assess cabin air quality and ventilation system performance, including the effects of passenger density and flight duration. A total of 50 such flights are planned. The findings will identify current best practice and will be used to improve understanding of (1) what constitutes good cabin air; (2) the impact on the safety, health, and comfort of passengers and cabin crew; and (3) the effects on operating costs, fuel energy use, and the external environment.

To identify the technology (i.e., environmental control systems including filtration and air distribution) that is available to improve cabin air quality, BRE will develop new designs to address various air quality issues, including the control of carbon dioxide, humidification, outside air supply, and the recirculation and filtration of air. Operating costs and energy consumption will be analyzed in relation to environmental impacts. New designs must be suitable for retrofitting to existing aircraft, either as complete environmental control systems or as subsystems within existing units. The overall intention is to make environmental control systems flexible and easy to operate. For example, improved systems might enable the crew to match the system to the passenger load factor, reduce bleed air, or provide additional comfort in different areas of the cabin.

BRE will seek to improve the performance of filtration systems and then develop new technologies and systems. It will assess existing filtration systems and consider how the installation process and activities such as maintenance, lifting, and cleaning affect performance. A technology demonstrator rig will be developed to test new filtration systems. New and enhanced features will be developed to mitigate such problems as the recirculation of pollutants, bacteria, and viruses. Other major factors include the compatibility of the filtration systems with the overall environmental control system, operational costs, and energy consumption.

The effectiveness of current air distribution systems will be gauged through in-flight monitoring. New design strategies and technologies, such as personal controls, will be developed with the goal of maximizing the effectiveness of cabin ventilation. The study will also look at ways of making the distribution system more easily integrated with aircraft design.

To assess and determine potential improvements to existing standards and performance specifications for the cabin environment, BRE will assess existing standards. Potential improvements to existing standards and specifications will be determined. Checks will be carried out to ensure the feasibility of the performance specifications and costs and to identify any environmental implications. New performance indexes and comfort criteria will also be defined, and BRE will develop a model to be tested.

Surveillance and Research Programs

Key recommendations of the Council report were to establish surveillance and research programs to determine effects of cabin air quality on aircraft occupants’ health and comfort.

Surveillance Program The following is a detailed description of these programs as stated in the Council report.

Research Program

The following is a detailed description of the research program, including long-standing questions regarding air quality, objectives, and program approach.

Outstanding air quality- related questions to be addressed by the research program

How is the ozone concentration in the cabin environment affected by various factors (e.g., ambient concentrations, reaction with surfaces, the presence and effectiveness of catalytic converters) and what is the relationship between cabin ozone concentrations and health effects on cabin occupants?

What is the effect of cabin pressure altitude on susceptible cabin occupants, including infants, pregnant women, and people with cardiovascular disease?

Does the environmental control system (ECS) provide sufficient quantity and distribution of outside air to meet the FAA regulatory requirements, and to what extent is cabin ventilation associated with complaints from passengers and cabin crew? Can it be verified that infectious disease agents are transmitted primarily between people who are in close contact? Does recirculating cabin air increase cabin occupants’ risk of exposure?

What is the toxicity of the constituents or degradation products of engine lubricating oils, hydraulic fluids, and de-icing fluids, and is there a relationship between exposures to them and reported health effects on cabin crew? How are these oils, fluids, and degradation products distributed from the engines into the ECS and throughout the cabin environment?

What are the magnitudes of exposures to pesticides in aircraft cabins, and what is the relationship between the exposures and reported symptoms?

What is the contribution of low relative humidity to the perception of dryness, and do other factors cause or contribute to the irritation associated with the dry cabin environment during flight?

Research program objectives

To investigate possible association between specific air quality characteristics and health effects or complaints.

To evaluate the physical and chemical factors affecting specific air quality characteristics in aircraft cabins.

To determine whether FARS for air quality are adequate to protect health and ensure the comfort of passengers and crew.

To determine exposure to selected contaminants (e.g., constituents of engine oils and hydraulic fluids, their degradation products, and pesticides) and establish their potential toxicity more fully.

Research program approach Use continuous monitoring data from surveillance program when possible.

Monitor additional air quality characteristics on selected flights as necessary (e.g., integrated particulate-matter sampling to assess exposure to selected contaminants).

Identify and monitor “problem” aircraft and review maintenance and repair records to evaluate issues associated with air quality incidents.

Collect selected health data (e.g., pulse-oximetry data to assess arterial oxygen saturation of passengers and crew).

Conduct laboratory and other ground-based studies to characterize air distribution and circulation and contaminant generation, transport, and degradation in the cabin and the ECS.

GAO Contacts and Staff Acknowledgments

GAO Contacts

Staff Acknowledgments

In addition to the individuals named above, Kevin Bailey, Jim Geibel, David Ireland, Bert Japikse, Stanley Kostyla, Edward Laughlin, Donna Leiss, and Maria Romero made key contributions to this report.

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