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Assessment of noise in the airplane cabin environment

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 28, pages 568–578 (2018)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective

To measure sound levels in the aircraft cabin during different phases of flight.

Methods

Sound level was measured on 200 flights, representing six aircraft groups using continuous monitors. A linear mixed-effects model with random intercept was used to test for significant differences in mean sound level by aircraft model and across each flight phase as well as by flight phase, airplane type, measurement location and proximity to engine noise.

Results

Mean sound levels across all flight phases and aircraft groups ranged from 37.6 to >110 dB(A) with a median of 83.5 dB(A). Significant differences in noise levels were also observed based on proximity to the engines and between aircraft with fuselage- and wing mounted engines. Nine flights (4.5%) exceeded the recommended 8-h TWA exposure limit of 85 dB(A) by the NIOSH and ACGIH approach, three flights (1.5%) exceeded the 8-h TWA action level of 85 dB(A) by the OSHA approach, and none of the flights exceeded the 8-h TWA action level of 90 dB(A) by the OSHA PEL approach.

Conclusions

Additional characterization studies, including personal noise dosimetry, are necessary to document accurate occupational exposures in the aircraft cabin environment and identify appropriate response actions. FAA should consider applying the more health-protective NIOSH/ACGIH occupational noise recommendations to the aircraft cabin environment.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Aerospace Medicine through the National Air Transportation Center of Excellence for Airliner Cabin Environment Research (ACER)/Research in the RITE, Cooperative Agreements 10-C-RITE-HU, 07-C-RITE-HU and 04-C-ACE-HU. Although the FAA has sponsored this project, it neither endorses nor rejects the findings of this research. We thank the anonymous peer-reviewers for their excellent comments that have enhanced the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

    Christopher D. Zevitas, John D. Spengler, Eileen McNeely, Xiaodong Cao, Anna-Kate Hard & Joseph G. Allen

  2. Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA

    Byron Jones

  3. Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School oftab Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

    Brent Coull

  4. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA

    Sin Ming Loo

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Correspondence to Joseph G. Allen.

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Zevitas, C.D., Spengler, J.D., Jones, B. et al. Assessment of noise in the airplane cabin environment. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 28, 568–578 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-018-0027-z

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