HEPA Air Filters in Passenger Aircraft

The global economy of the modern world means that millions of people travel by air for business and for pleasure. This mass movement of people increases the risk of airborne disease spreading from country to country. HEPA air filters are used in passenger aircraft in order to combat this problem.

Any kind of indoor environment has a high concentration of airborne pollutants. Besides chemical contaminants and dust the environment of the passenger aircraft also has microorganisms and bacteria that are potential disease carriers. Special HEPA air filters with anti-microbial protection are used in passenger aircraft for the safety of passengers and crew.

HEPA air filter systems which are specially designed for the aircraft industry contained and anti-microbial additives which protect against a range of bacteria, fungi, and yeast. The HEPA filter system by itself can trap sub micron particles and the anti-microbial additives ensure that any potentially disease causing substances are destroyed on contact.

The addition of this anti-microbial compound to the standard HEPA filter system is necessary because microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, yeast, mold and mildew are able to reproduce and grow even in the dry environment of a passenger aircraft. The anti-microbial compound penetrates and disrupts cell walls of these organisms making them unable to reproduce.

Without these special HEPA filters, biological contaminants can grow and re-circulate throughout the aircraft. This is especially alarming because of the emergence of multiple drug-resistant bacteria such as mycobacterium tuberculosis which can threaten the health of airline passengers and crew.

These special HEPA air filter systems are a necessity in the airline industry because of the unique environments of passenger aircraft. Passenger airplanes typically re-circulate 50% of the air within the cabin. Combine this with increasing passenger loads and the substantial percentage of global air travelers with the endemic diseases and it becomes obvious that HEPA filter systems are the only way to protect the passengers and crew members.