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The possible effects on health, comfort and safety of aircraft cabin environments

Medical Research Council, Institute for Environment and Health, 94 Regent Road, Leicester LE1 7DD, England

Linda K. Shuker, PhD

Medical Research Council, Institute for Environment and Health, 94 Regent Road, Leicester LE1 7DD, England

Lesley Rushton, PhD

Medical Research Council, Institute for Environment and Health, 94 Regent Road, Leicester LE1 7DD, England

Fiona Warren, MSc

Medical Research Council, Institute for Environment and Health, 94 Regent Road, Leicester LE1 7DD, England

Jane Stevens, MSc

Medical Research Council, Institute for Environment and Health, 94 Regent Road, Leicester LE1 7DD, England

A consultation was undertaken to investigate the views and concerns of stakeholders in the aircraft industry about the possible harmful effects on personal health, comfort and safety of aircraft cabin environments.

Stakeholders were identified from a variety of sources including Government agencies, the Internet, House of Lords inquiry, and suggestions of intervie wees. They represented: aircraft crews, aircraft con structors and engineers, government departments and authorities, holiday/flight companies, insurance com panies, non-governmental organisations, occupational health physicians, passenger representatives, and inde pendent researchers and consultants. Eighty-seven were contacted of which 57 were interviewed over the telephone using a semi-structured questionnaire. Their concerns were transcribed into a standard format and analysed qualitatively. Key stakeholders, along with Government officials, were invited to a workshop to discuss and prioritise the issues raised during the inter views.

The main concerns expressed by the participants fell into five main areas: deep vein thrombosis, air qual ity, infection, cosmic radiation, and jet lag and work pat terns. In addition, a number of safety concerns were raised as well as comments on the provision of appro priate advice to passengers. It was generally felt that further research was required on each of these subjects, as well as an improvement in the quality; quantity and availability of information provided for passengers prior to boarding a flight.

Key Words: Aircraft cabins • air quality • deep vein thrombosis (DVT) • infection • jet lag • work patterns

The Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health, Vol. 121, No. 3, 177-184 (2001)
DOI: 10.1177/146642400112100315


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