Respiratory and thermal physiology of face masks.

Details

• Personal Author:
  DuBois AB
• Description:
  Factors which may influence the thermal discomfort associated with wearing respirators were investigated. In a series of experiments, subjects wore face masks at rest or during exercise, at different air temperatures, mask air temperatures, and humidities. Skin temperature, heart rate, skin wetness, and subjective ratings of thermal discomfort were determined. Results were compared with those for subjects not wearing face masks. The pathways of heat transfer from skin to mask and from mask to the environment were studied. Mask wall temperature was lowered through evaporative cooling of the outer surface of the experimental mask, and the effects on thermal comfort and acceptability of the face mask were determined. Results indicated that, at rest, skin temperatures of the face above 34.5 degrees-C were uncomfortable. During exercise, skin temperatures below 31 degrees were comfortable. Evaporative cooling of respirator face masks increased subjective comfort. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Content Notes:
  in NTRL, no pdf
• Subjects:
  Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Respiratory Protective Devices Safety Temperature
• Keywords:
  NIOSH-Grant; Respirators; Respiratory-protection; Humans; Temperature-effects; Respiratory-protective-equipment; Face-masks
• Series:
  Grant Final Reports
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Final Grant Report
• Place as Subject:
  Connecticut ; OSHA Region 1
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  OEP - Office of Extramural Programs
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-17
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00215355
• NTIS Accession Number:
  PB93234201
• Citation:
  John B. Pierce Foundation Laboratory, New Haven, Connecticut 1992 Jun; :1-17
• Contact Point Address:
  None John B Pierce Foundation, Inc 290 Congress Avenue New Haven, Conn 06519
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1992
• NORA Priority Area:
  Respirator Research
• Performing Organization:
  John B. Pierce Foundation Lab, Inc., New Haven, Connecticut
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  19880501
• Source Full Name:
  John B. Pierce Foundation Laboratory, New Haven, Connecticut
• End Date:
  19940430
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:7dc847c09aedf140bc731323e8446b4703641ae07d6ad9e7b7238120dab30b8f7dcaa9b938d34d035f87873a0fe7fec262d5d13dcaf290925445e82b6de3b57d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/246274/cdc_246274_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 168.02 KB ]