Table 2

Comparison of measured and modelled RSP pollution between smoking & non-smoking flights

Study author; country; sponsorAverage RSP concentration (μg/m3) smoking sectionsAverage RSP concentration (μg/m3) non-smoking sectionsAverage RSP concentration (μg/m3) non-smoking flightsEstimated % of smoking section RSP pollution from SHSComment
†Non-smoking flights did not exist at this time; ‡Non-smoking sections did not exist at this time.
All means are arithmetic with standard deviation, unless identified as geometric means as reported.
FAA & USPHS, 1970–1971 (NRC 1986)1; n = 34; USA; governmentAverage 140 μg/m3; peak 1200‡NA†“Several aircraft” one of the earliest studies: 20 military and 14 civilian flights
United Airlines, 1982 (NAS 1986)1; USA; airlineRange 54 (SD 24) to 264 (SD 101)Maximum and minimum values averaged for five aircraft: B-747, DC-10, DC-8-61; B-727, B737 (unpublished data reported in NRC table 5-3) data do not specify sections
J Spengler (NAS, 1986)1; USA; NGORange 50–500 peak 1000Range 10–50NAB-747 using piezobalance (unpublished data reported in NRC table 5-3)
J Spengler (NAS, 1986)1; USA; NGO300 (SD 200) peak 750100 (SD 20) forward 10–40 aftNADC-10 using nephelometer load factors 40–60% six segments of a Boston-Anchorage flight (unpublished data reported in NRC table 5-3) load factor 40–60%
Models for RSP on aircraft
Repace & Lowrey (1980)9; modelled concentration167B-707, 23 air changes/hour 100% load factor, 33% smoking prevalence, assumes flight attendants exposed to uniformly mixed concentration
NAS (1986)1; modelled concentration500B-767, coach 60% load factor 12.7 air changes/hour, 50% recirculation, 33% smoking prevalence; volume averaged concentration
Nagda et al (1989)3; modelled concentration22444MD-80, 23 air changes/hour, 21% recirculated, 15 cigarettes/hour (observed) in 8 rows (21% of coach rows)
Nagda et al (1989)3; actual measurement30286MD-80, 23 air changes/hour, 21% recirculation, 15 cigarettes/hr (observed) in 8 rows (21% of coach rows)
Nagda et al model31225B-727, 22 air changes/hour; 3 cigarettes/hour, 0% recirculation
Nagda et al measurement323332B-727, 22 air changes/hour; 3 cigarettes/hour, 0% recirculation