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Toxicological Evaluation of Chemical Compounds Identified in Air Samples Collected from Simulated Engine and Aircraft Contamination Events
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2024-10-01
[PDF-1.24 MB]
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Abstract:Cabin air quality within commercial aircraft has persisted as an area of concern, specifically with regard to potential exposures of and health impacts to flight crew and/or passengers. Many efforts have focused on understanding quality of the air within aircraft and the potential risks of exposure to chemicals within cabin or engine bleed air; however, variability in collection and analytical methods, and samples themselves, in addition to the lack of validated sensors for accurate in-cabin measurements have left many questions unanswered. This study was designed to assess engine bleed air for chemical contaminants following engine fluid contamination events and evaluate the potential risks for health-related effects should human exposure occur at the reported concentrations. Contamination events were simulated by injecting a variety of aircraft fluids, including oils, hydraulic fluids and a deicing fluid into an engine (for off aircraft engine stand tests) or a propulsion engine or APU (for ground-based on aircraft tests). A vast variety of chemical compounds were identified across the study, including volatile organic compounds, carbonyls and organophosphates. Interestingly, despite the study simulating contamination events by actively injecting aircraft fluids, the chemical compounds, while many, were identified at relatively low concentrations – on the order of parts per billion (ppb) or less – with none reaching the level of parts per million (ppm) where many exposure recommendations, limits and guidelines would start to restrict exposure in an effort to prevent the risk of potential health effects. Only two compounds were found to have exceeded health exposure recommendations, limits, values and/or guidelines. Tridecane, a potential dermal irritant, was found at a very low concentration (14.86 ppb). This value exceeded tridecane’s only established guideline, although the justification for the extremely low guideline could not be scientifically validated. The other compound that was found in concentrations that exceeded one exposure recommendation was formaldehyde; however, those formaldehyde concentrations (reaching ~100 ppb) did not exceed established/accepted exposure limits and guidelines, and likely present little to no health risk at concentrations ~100 ppb.
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