Microbial Removal (Cabin Air Filters)

Pall true HEPA filters reduce the risk of disease transmission from recirculated cabin air. New Data Sheet
Bacterial and Virus Removal Efficiency of Pall HEPA Cabin Air Filters Bacterial and Virus Removal Efficiency
of Pall HEPA Cabin Air Filters
Revised April 2009


Pall cabin air filters reduce the chance of airborne infections spreading throughout the passenger compartment and flight deck.

There are widespread concerns and misconceptions about the transmission of infectious disease in aircraft cabins with recirculated air. These concerns heighten whenever the possibility of a new infection, such as SARS or Avian Flu, appears in the news.

Pall is uniquely positioned to combine their expertise in aerospace and heathcare filtration.

Following standard practices used in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries, Pall's HEPA cabin air filters have been challenged using the bacteria Brevundimonas diminuta and Bacillus subtilis and the MS2 coliphage virus. The microbial removal efficiency has been measured to be greater than 99.999%.

However, it should be noted that even state-of-the-art cabin air filters cannot prevent the possibility of direct person-to-person transmission within the aircraft cabin

Bacteria and Virus Removal

Pall has decades of experience providing microbial protection filters for hospitals and sterile air filters for pharmaceutical production.
Overview
Overview
Aircraft Cabin Air Filtration
Applications
Cabin air filters for all the major commercial aircraft
Cabin air filters for all the major commercial aircraft
Why Choose Pall?
Why Choose Pall?
Pall's experience in aircraft cabin air filtration and VOC removal
Design & Testing Capabilities
Design & Testing Capabilities
Learn about Pall's design and engineering expertise

Diffusional Interception

Viruses typically range from about 0.02 to 0.2 micron in size. For very small particles (less than about 0.1 micron in size), Brownian motion causes particles to be collected on the individual cabin air fibers and pore walls. The smaller the particles, the greater are their random Brownian movements, and the higher the capture efficiency.

Inertial Impaction

Bacteria typically range from about 0.5 to 5 micron in size. Particles of higher density than air deviate from the air stream path by virtue of their inertia and impact on the solid surfaces or walls of the pores, where they adhere.

Health Effects Associated With Microbial Aerosols

Pathogenic bacteria, viruses and fungal spores may cause infection in humans. Normal activities like breathing, coughing, sneezing and talking disperse millions of these micro-organisms as a fine aerosol. Recirculated air may distribute these microbial aerosols throughout the cabin unless HEPA filtration is employed.

Some of the health effects linked to microbial aerosols are listed below
  • Respiratory Impairment
    • Pulmonary Diseases
    • Nasal Infections
    • Asthma
  • Ear Infections
  • Sinus Diseases
  • Irritations and Inflammations
    • Skin
    • Nose
    • Eyes
    • Respiratory Tract
  • Allergies
  • Headaches
  • Fatigue
  • Nausea, Dizziness

Passenger Susceptibility to Infection

In the complex cabin air environment, passengers and crew may be more susceptible to infection than under normal circumstances. Many factors contribute to this, such as low humidity (typically less than 15% RH), reduced oxygen (because of reduced overall pressure in the cabin during flight), the artificial cabin environment, stress, mechanical vibration, fatigue, jet lag, and contact with people from a wide variety of areas who may carry types of infections not normally encountered.

Pall true HEPA filters reduce the risk of disease transmission from recirculated cabin air.