Modeling VOC emisssions from ozone reactions with human-worn clothing in an aircraft cabin

Abstract

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are indoor air pollutants with many adverse health effects for humans. Ozone reactions with human surfaces (skin, hair, and clothing) are an important source of VOCs in the indoor air, especially in aircraft cabins due to typically high ozone concentrations and occupant densities. Therefore, it is important to study the ozone-initiated VOC emissions from its reactions with passengers in an aircraft cabin and assess their resulting exposure. This investigation developed empirical models for computing the emissions of some major VOCs such as acetone, 4-oxopentanal (4-OPA), nonanal, and decanal from ozone reactions with human-worn clothing. The empirical models were used to compute the contributions of human surfaces to those VOCs in an aircraft cabin mockup under different environmental conditions. The computed results were then compared with their corresponding experimental data obtained in the mockup. The models can provide rough estimates of the ozone-initiated VOCs.