Objectives To monitor and evaluate the quality of air in aircraft cabins.

Methods The parameters of air quality in aircraft cabins at level flight condition, including temperature, humidity, wind speed, air pressure, illumination level, noise, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, volatile organic matters and total air bacterial counts in 26 samples were tested and the data were analyzed statistically.

Results The average temperature, relative humidity, air pressure, wind speed, noise, illumination level, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, volatile organic matters and total air bacterial counts in cabins were 22℃, 9.3%, 75 kP, 0.07 m/s, 77.2 dB(A), 296 lx, 0.91 mg/m³, 1 687 mg/m³, 0.49 mg/m³ and 25 counts/dish, respectively. The humidity and noise in three types of aircraft (large, medium and small) were significantly different (P < 0.05) statistically. There were no significant difference statistically on temperature, pressure, wind speed, illumination, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, volatile organic matters and total air bacterial counts among the three types of aircraft (large, medium and small; P > 0.05). There were a significant difference statistically on air pressure, noise, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide between the front and back cabins (P < 0.05), but no significant difference statistically on temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, illumination level, volatile organic matters and total air bacterial counts among front, middle and back cabins (P > 0.05).

Conclusions The quality of air in aircraft cabins was well generally, but the relative humidity in cabins was lower than the standards for indoor air, which could lead passengers and air crews to feel dry and less comfortable. In addition, the air pressure in cabins was lower than the atmospheric pressure, but it was in compliance with airworthiness requirement. It is necessary to develop standards suitable for monitoring and assessing cabin air quality in our country.