Outline
I. Air on commercial airline cabins is a combination of circulated and outside air.
1. Low humidity,
2. The requirement for cabin pressurization,
3. Possible exposure to ordinary biological and chemical contaminants
B. Perform a careful scientific survey to make sure that rules governing the quality of air in business aircraft cabins are sufficient to care for public health
1. Formulate a system that regularly checks the air in the cabin to ensure it is safe for the travelers.
II. Number of air travelers has almost quadrupled in the last 3 decades.
A. Number of young and old passengers has risen
1. People and children with pre-existing health conditions have risen.
III. Ozone contamination.
A. Ecological factors within commercial planes may be responsible for contamination of the air in the cabin.
1. The air in the cabin is affected by the prevailing environmental conditions.
B. Ozone contamination may cause problems of respiratory and insufficient oxygen pressure.
1. Risk for citizens with particular pre-existing conditions.
2. Noxious substances that could pollute cabin air are not scrutinized sufficiently.
3. Levels of ozone on some planes exceed the travelling agencies’ standards.
IV. Aircraft’s ecological control system as a source of contamination.
A. During irregular processes when hydraulic fluids, engine oil, or de-icing solutions go into the cabin.
1. Passengers and some crew members have reported incidences of odors in the cabin.
2. This health risk should be investigated by aviation regulators and health organizations.
The Commercial Airline Cabin Environment
More than ten years ago, after the air travelling agencies prohibited smoking on every domestic airline, passengers, flights, and cabin squad still often complain that the planes air is unhealthy and unpleasant. The air is a combination of circulated and outside air, similar to that in most offices and homes. However, the closeness of travelers to each other, low humidity, the requirement for cabin pressurization, and possible exposure to ordinary biological and chemical contaminants, all together makes the cabin surroundings distinctive. Also, this closeness in the cabin means that there is a higher risk of airborne diseases being transmitted as compared to large open spaces such as malls.
According to (Burge), travelling agencies ought to perform a careful scientific survey to make sure that rules governing the quality of air in business aircraft cabins are sufficient to care for public health (5). The organization ought to establish scrutiny, program that checks flights, to verify conformity with travelling agencies quality of air regulations, and record health complaints or effects. Airline companies should understand that clean cabin air is not just a marketing tool but also an ethical requirement for their trade. As a result, it is necessary that these airlines do not just say and brand themselves that their air is clean, but also regularly monitor the levels of contaminants in this environment. This is necessary to ensure that contamination levels are kept at a minimal and that any rise will be detected early.
According to (Jones), the figure of air passengers internationally has almost quadrupled in the last 3 decades, to approximately 1.5 billion per annum (4). Consequently, with this rise, the number of young and old passengers has risen, incorporating infants, people and children with pre-existing health conditions. This increased population that is susceptible to infection from inhaling contaminated air in commercial air cabins makes the issue a matter of significance.
Since few health impacts data for crew and travelers have been composed together with exposure data, it is exceedingly difficult to establish a contributory relation between adverse health impacts and deprived air quality on aircrafts. Conversely, some proof suggests that ecological factors within commercial planes may be accountable for particular medical complaints amongst travelers and crew. This is mainly because the air in the cabin mixes with air in the surrounding which means that contaminants can be transferred from one of the two environments to the other.
Ozone contamination may cause problems of respiratory and insufficient oxygen pressure could perhaps present a wellbeing risk for citizens with particular pre-existing conditions, like respiratory and cardiac diseases. Other noxious substances that could pollute cabin air, like hydraulic fluids, engine oils, pesticides and de-icing resolutions have not been scrutinized sufficiently to evaluate possible health risks. In most circumstances, the airline company just important that the airline analyzes for bacterial toxics such as H1N1 and ignores these other contaminants. It is, also, essential to understand that both bacterial and chemical contaminants pose a health risk to the travelers and crew members.
Even though, the travelling agencies demands that concentration of ozone be upheld within some limits, researches indicate that levels of ozone on some planes exceed the travelling agency’s standards. High concentrations of ozone at ground point have been linked with airway exasperation, decreased lung operation, damage of the immune system, and asthma exacerbation. The agencies ought to take steps to make sure that its recent guideline for ozone is met on every plane. The best way that the agencies can enforce some of these rules is by giving them powers to prosecute.
Also, aircraft ought to be either set to avert ozone from going into the cabin or forbidden from flying at high ozone altitudes. To make sure of agency rules compliance, there is need to scrutinize flights to confirm that ozone regulators are functioning properly. There are unpleasant health impacts that could result from the decreased partial oxygen pressure. At high altitudes, pressure of oxygen in the environment is too little to sustain the life of a human being; hence, the cabin ought to be pressurized. Recent travelling agencies rules demand that air pressure of cabin should be no lesser than the air pressure that occurs in nature. However, it is unidentified whether this is sufficient to protect all crew and passengers from concentrated oxygen partial pressure, which does not cause troubles for fit people, but can, pose dangers for those who have circumstances that may weaken circulation of oxygen via the bloodstream. Persons with cardiac or pulmonary or cardiac disease, for instance, may experience symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, numbness, headache, and lightheadedness. It is recommendable to conduct further studies to decide if the approximated attitude for the pressure of the cabin is sufficient. Once operated appropriately, environmental, regulatory systems on the aircraft give a plenty supply of air to coerce the cabin, retain comfortable surroundings, and dilute or reduce heat, odors, and contaminants.
Nevertheless, the present design standard for the least amount of outside air disseminated into cabins is approximately half the aeration rate frequently required for structuring environments. Low airing rates in buildings have been connected to increased events of health signs and ailing leave, but whether creating airing standards are suitable for airplanes has not been recognized. The increase of communicable agents during air travel does not seem to be facilitated by plane airing systems, but rather by the elevated density of persons,
An aircraft's ecological control arrangement can be a basis of contamination during irregular processes when hydraulic fluids, engine oil, or de-icing solutions go into the cabin during the air supply process in what is referred to as bleed air (Macher 8). Several passengers and crews have reported events of odors or smoke in cabins. The agency should investigate the feasibility of and need for installing apparatus to eliminate particles and vapors from air provided by the environmental, regulatory system on all planes.
Two ecological factors that could contribute to crew and passenger complaints concerning quality of air are low relative moisture and pesticide utilization. Low relative moisture happens on nearly every flight and may cause some momentary discomfort, like drying of skin, nose and eyes. In most cases, the travelers and crew dismiss this as a simple allergy they sometimes get when flying. This ignorance increases the negative implications on the subject’s health. Exposure to pesticides that are regularly sprayed on some global flights can lead to irritation of skin and are considered to be poisonous (Morgan 3).
Additionally, cabin crews ought to be taught to identify and react to asthma attacks As well as other severe allergic effects that could be caused by the existence of flying cabin allergens. Furthermore, the agencies should work with groups to develop alertness among flight crews, passengers and doctors of the possible health risks of air travel (Nazaroff 6).
In conclusion, since few health impacts data for crew and travelers have been composed together with exposure data, it is exceedingly difficult to establish a contributory relation between adverse health impacts and deprived air quality on aircrafts. Moreover, ozone contamination may cause problems of respiratory and insufficient oxygen pressure could perhaps present a wellbeing risk for citizens with particular pre existing conditions, like respiratory and cardiac diseases. Hence, to prevent this, the agencies must scrutinize flights to confirm that ozone regulators are functioning properly.
Sources Evaluation
1. Burge, H. “Effects of the Indoor Environment on Health”. NAP. Jan. 1995. Web. 17th Nov. 2012. (books.nap.edu/books/0309048311/html/)
Summary
The author argues that, in the case of air travelers, travelling agencies ought to perform a careful scientific survey to make sure that rules governing the quality of air in business aircraft cabins are sufficient to care for public health. Furthermore, the organization ought to also establish a scrutiny program that checks flights to verify conformity with travelling agencies quality of air regulations and records health complaints or effects.
Evaluation
The article clarifies the fact that the quality of air has effects on the health of persons. He gives an example of a plane cabin air quality. He further gives suggestions of what ought to be done in order to solve the problem of air pollution.
2. Jones, B. “Air Quality Standard for the Airline Industry”. JFBI. 26th June 2012. Web. 17th Nov. 2012. (www.jfbi.org)
Summary
The author explains that ozone contamination may cause problems of respiratory and insufficient oxygen pressure could perhaps present a wellbeing risk for citizens with particular pre-existing conditions, like respiratory and cardiac diseases. Other noxious substances that could pollute cabin air, like hydraulic fluids, engine oils, pesticides and de icing resolutions have not been scrutinized sufficiently to evaluate possible health risks.
Evaluation
The author gives the figure of air passengers internationally, which has almost quadrupled in the last 3 decades, to approximately 1.5 billion per Annum. He further explains that concomitant with this rise the number of young and old passengers has raised, incorporating infants, people and children with existing health complications. The author explains the impacts of ozone concentration and gives the best level.
3. Macher, J. “The Airline Cabin Environment”. NAP. 2006. Web. 17th Nov. 2012. (www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=10238&page=294)
Summary
The author explains about the airline air contamination. He points out how several passengers and crews have reported events of odors or smoke in cabins. He points out that the airline agency should investigate the feasibility of, and need for installing apparatus to eliminate particles and vapors from air provided by the environmental, regulatory system on all planes.
Evaluation
The author articulates the impacts of air pollution on persons with cardiac or pulmonary or cardiac disease, where he says that they may experience symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, numbness, headache, and lightheadedness. He recommends the agencies to conduct further studies to decide if the approximated attitude for the pressure of the cabin is sufficient. He believes that, once operated appropriately, environmental regulatory systems on the aircraft give a plenty supply of air to coerce the cabin, retain comfortable surroundings, and dilute or reduce heat, odors, and contaminants.
4. Morgan, S. “Environmental & Occupation Health Services”. Depths. July, 2008. Web. 17th Nov. 2012. (washington.edu/nwcohs//nwcohs_annualreport_08-09.pdf)
Summary
There are two ecological factors that could contribute to crew and passenger complaints concerning quality of air. They are low relative moisture and pesticide utilization. First, low relative moisture happens on nearly each flight and may cause some momentary discomfort, like drying of skin, nose and eyes. Second, exposure to pesticides that are regularly sprayed on some global flights can lead to irritation of skin and are considered to be poisonous.
Evaluation
The author identifies two main ecological factors that could contribute to crew and passenger complaints concerning quality of air. They are low relative moisture and pesticide utilization. He further gives recommendations on how to prevent such occurrences.
5. “Civil & Environmental Engineering”. June 2002. Web. 17th Nov. 2012. (www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=10238&page=291)
Summary
Cabin crews ought to be taught to identify, and react to asthma attacks, as well as other severe allergic effects that could be caused by the existence of flying cabin allergens. Furthermore, the agencies should work with groups, to develop alertness among flight crews, passengers and doctors of the possible health risks of air travel
Evaluation
The author identifies the group of people to be taught, which includes the cabin crews. He further explains what the agencies should do in order to develop alertness among the flight crews, passengers and doctors of the possible health risks of air travel.
Works Cited
Burge, H. “Effects of the Indoor Environment on Health”. NAP. Jan. 1995. Web. 17th Nov. 2012.
(books.nap.edu/books/0309048311/html/)
Jones, B. “Air Quality Standard for the Airline Industry”. JFBI. 26th June 2012. Web. 17th Nov.
2012. (www.jfbi.org)
Macher, J. “The Airline Cabin Environment”. NAP. 2006. Web. 17th Nov. 2012.
(www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=10238&page=294)
Morgan, S. “Environmental & Occupation Health Services”. Depths. July, 2008. Web. 17th Nov.
2012. (washington.edu/nwcohs//nwcohs_annualreport_08-09.pdf)
“Civil & Environmental Engineering”. June 2002. Web. 17th Nov. 2012.
(www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=10238&page=290)
