Respirator physiology research: answers in search of the question

Details

• Personal Author:
  Beck JG ; Brown CL ; Harber P
• Description:
  An attempt was made to define the underlying questions concerning respirator research by studying the effects of respirators (outcome measures), types of stressors used, and personal characteristics of workers which modify the responses. Past studies have suggested that respirator usage has both beneficial and adverse effects. There have also been studies made concerning the effect of respiratory usage on ventilation, on the control and pattern of respirations, on heart rate and other cardiac effects, and on work performance. Powered air helmets have been demonstrated to be subjectively acceptable for use by farmers. Only limited assessments have been made of whether adverse effects of respiratory usage increase with the passage of time. Until recently only a few studies have been made which measured subjective outcomes. Some studies have attempted to measure the efficacy of respiratory usage in preventing inhalation disease. One such study involved a small group of farmers with farmer's lung disease. A study measuring compliance determined that subjective discomfort was noted as the major determinant of whether spray painters actually used respirators. A few studies have attempted to compare directly the significance of different types of loads on respirator effectiveness. Some of the stressors examined have included inhaled carbon-dioxide (124389), laboratory exercise, field exercise, actual work and thermal loads. Studies of personal determinants which affect respirator usage have included smoking, disease, age, trait anxiety, carbon-dioxide sensitivity, training, attitudes and beliefs, acceptability, fear of health consequences, availability of unit, and worker experience. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Respiratory Protective Devices Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety
• Keywords:
  Occupational Health Programs Personal Protective Equipment Respiratory Equipment Respiratory Protection Respiratory System Disorders Safety Practices Worker Health
• ISSN:
  0096-1736
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  California ; OSHA Region 9
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  38-44
• Volume:
  33
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00199779
• Citation:
  J Occup Med 1991 Jan; 33(1):38-44
• Contact Point Address:
  Philip Harber, MD, Occupational Medicine Branch, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1735
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1991
• NORA Priority Area:
  Respirators Research
• Performing Organization:
  University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  19840801
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational Medicine
• End Date:
  19970331
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:9c7f89572b5b3816d23cd6ab40e9e6ee77bf5c36347b583258b12e923ea43a91de5b9ed5bf86965571eeda767e736a5254b64472ba1f7317253ddc199a348963
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/205501/cdc_205501_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 417.75 KB ]