Effects of industrial respirators on respiratory timing and psychophysiologie load sensitivity

Philip Harber, Karen SooHoo, Myron Lew

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

Loads imposed by industrial respirators include inspiratory Bow resistance and dead space. Eleven normal subjects were studied at Gve levels of treadmill exercise (from resting to peak) with and without a respirator surrogate load (single air-purifying cartridge plus 800 ml dead space). Analysis of variance with linear contrasts was used to separate interpersonal from respirator effects. The respiratory pattern was significantly affected, prolonging inspiration, decreasing peak inspiratory Bow rates, and increasing tidal volume. Sensitivity to respiratory loads was measured by the magnitude estimation method; the respirator load, but not exercise, decreased load sensitivity. Interpersonal differences in load sensitivity were relatively large. This study suggests that tolerance to respiratory loads similar to those of respirators may be significantly affected by respiratory timing and load sensitivity adaptation. Poor tolerance by some workers might be related to abnormal psychophysiologic load sensitivity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)256-262
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Occupational Medicine
Volume30
Issue number3
StatePublished - Mar 1988
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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