Occupant evaluation of 7-hour exposures in a simulated aircraft cabin - Part 1 : optimum balance between fresh air supply and humidity

Low humidity in the aircraft cabin environment appears to be a possible cause of symptoms experienced during long flights. For that study an aircraft cabin with realistic pollution sources was built inside a climate chamber, it can provide fresh outside air at very low humidity . Four groups of 16-18 subjects were exposed to the four conditions of outside air supply rates. - 1.4, 3.3, 4.7 and 9.4 L/s per person (3, 7, 10 and 20 cfm/p) - yielding average humidity levels of 28%, 16%, 11% and 7% RH, respectively. Results and conclusion are presented.