Cabin environment and perception of cabin air quality among commercial aircrew

Objective: Our objective was to study the perception of cabin air quality ( CAQ) and cabin environment (CE) among commercial cabin crew, and to measure different aspects of CAQ on intercontinental flights. Methods: A standardi zed questionnaire was mailed in February-March 1997 to all Stockholm-based aircrew on duty in a Scandinavian flight company (n = 1857), and off ice wo rkers from the same company (n = 218). The answers were compared with an ex ternal reference group for the questionnaire (MM 040 NA). During this time, smoking was allowed on intercontinental flights, but not on other shorter flights. Smoking was prohibited on all flights after 1 September 1997. The participation rate was 81% (n = 1513) in the aircrew, and 77% (n = 168) in the office group. Air humidity, temperature, carbon dioxide (CO2) and respi rable dust were measured during intercontinental flights, during both smoki ng and nonsmoking conditions. Statistical analysis was performed by multipl e logistic regression analysis, keeping age, gender, smoking, current smoki ng, occupation, and perceived psychosocial work environment simultanously i n the model. Results: Air humidity was very low (mean 5%) during interconti nental flights. In most cases (97%) the CO2 concentration was below 1000 pp m. The average concentration of respirable particles was 67 mu g.m(-3) duri ng smoking conditions, and 4 mu g.m(-3) during non-smoking conditions. Comp laints of draftiness, too high temperature, varying temperature, stuffy air , dry air, static electricity, noise, inadequate illumination, and dust wer e more common among aircrew as compared with office workers from the same c ompany. Female crew had more complaints on too low temperature, dry air, an d dust. Current smokers had less complaints on stuffy air and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). Younger subjects and those with atopy (childhood ecze ma, allergy to tree or grass pollen, or furry animals) reported more compla ints. Reports on work stress and lack of influence on working conditions we re strongly related to perception of a poor cabin environment Flight deck c rew had more complaints about inadequate illumination and dust, but less co mplaints about other aspects of the cabin environment, as compared with fli ght attendants. Aircrew who had been on a flight the previous week, where s moking was allowed, had more complaints on dry air and ETS. Conclusion: Com plaints about work environment seems to be more common among aircrew than o ffice workers, particularly draft, stuffy air, dry air, static electricity, noise, inadequate illumination and dust. We could identify personal Factor s of importance, and certain conditions that could be improved, to achieve a better perception of the cabin environment. important factors were work s tress, lack of influence on the working conditions, and environmental tobac co smoke on some longer flights. The hygienic measurements in the cabin, pe rformed only on intercontinental smoking flights, showed that air humidity is very low onboard, and tobacco-smoking onboard leads to significant pollu tion from respirable dust.