Microbial Contamination in Airplane Cabins:Health Effects and Remediation

摘要

Microorganisms that affect human health are found in all indoor environments, including cabinsof commercial aircraft. Those that arise from human sources can be transmitted by direct contact,droplets, or the airborne route. Infections from human sources include Influenza, Rhinovirus, SARSand tuberculosis. Transmission by the airborne route can be reduced by sterilizing the air with ultravioletgermicidal irradiation, or by diluting the contaminated air with outdoor air through ventilation.Microbes arising from environmental sources include bacteria, fungi and other organisms such as protozoa.These usually have very simple requirements for growth – water and a simple substrate suchas dust. They cause health effects through direct infection rarely (one example is Legionnella),but more commonly cause immune reactions resulting in hypersensitivity or allergy mediated diseases.Environmental sources of microbial contamination are best prevented, but can be remediated throughcleaning, germicidal chemicals, or ultraviolet germicidal irradiation. Airborne microbial substancesincluding toxins, antigens and viable organisms can be removed by outdoor air ventilation or filtration.In aircraft cabins transmission of pathogens from human sources is difficult to control, but airbornetransmission can be reduced through increased outdoor air ventilation or filtration. Environmentalmicrobial contamination can, and does occur in aircraft cabins. These microbial sources are bestprevented but, if detected, can be removed through cleaning or disinfection. Ultraviolet germicidalirradiation is an under-utilized technology that may be useful for sterilizing air as well as potentialenvironmental sources.