Concentrations and Source Apportionment of Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) in Aircraft Cabins

Abstract

The aircraft cabin provides a unique indoor environment compared to other building environments. Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) is widely found in cabins and has clear adverse health impacts. This study investigated the PCE pollution characteristics in 56 aircraft cabins using on-flight Tenax-TA tube sampling and GC-MS analysis. PCE was detected at a high rate of 79% in sampled flights, indicating widespread contamination within the cabins. The mean concentration of PCE was 10.12 μg/m3, exceeding the 2.06 μg/m3 observed in residences in a previous study. The positive matrix factorization (PMF) model was used to identify potential sources of PCE in cabins. Six categories of sources were determined, including in-cabin cleaning products, aircraft cleaning/maintenance, cabin interior material, aircraft and vehicle exhaust, non-fuel oil and ozone-associated chemical reactions. The biggest PCE source in cabins was attributed to in-cabin cleaning products (45.30%), followed by cabin interior materials (24.90%), and aircraft cleaning/maintenance (19.82%). The findings of this study are beneficial to improving aircraft cabin air quality, reducing harmful pollutant exposure for cabin crew and passengers.