Field measurements of indoor air pollutant concentrations on two new ships

Indoor air quality (IAQ) on ships is important for the passengers’ comfort and the crew’s work efficiency, despite ships not being as common as vehicles and airplanes. The builders and operators need to be aware of the importance and present status of IAQ, but sufficient data and information are not available. In this study, we measured the pollutant concentrations on two different kinds of newly launched ships: a passenger ship and a chemical cargo ship. Although higher than in the passenger ship, the concentrations of most volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde in the cargo ship were lower than the recommended standards and acceptable with a few exceptions. The high CO and CO2 concentrations in the kitchen, engine room, and engine control room were generally attributed to combustion sources. Overall, the IAQ of the cargo ship was worse than that of the passenger ship, and the concentrations of some pollutants surpassed the international criteria. For the passenger ship, the variation of IAQ was also investigated after 17 months. The observed data showed some differences in concentration variation according to the types of pollutants. To improve IAQ on ships, more data need to be collected and minimum requirements suggested.