Sweat rate inside a full-facepiece respirator.

The accumulation of sweat inside a full-facepiece respirator mask and the rise in facial skin temperature can be important factors for acceptability of respirators worn in the heat. This study questioned how much sweat would have to be removed from a respirator (if a design to remove accumulated sweat were possible). Results from 20 subjects sitting in a warm, humid environment (35 degrees C and 90% relative humidity) for 90 minutes indicated that the average value was about 0.203 g sweat/min from the face, head, and neck, with most of that coming from the neck region. Men were found to have higher sweating rates than women. The results indicate that a large amount of sweat could accumulate inside the mask over a typical 8-hour day. Average facial skin temperature was found to rise about 2 degrees C over the 90-minutes test, and this rise could likely be the cause of the very uncomfortable rating given to the respirator.

[1]  C R Dooly,et al.  Influence of anxiety level on work performance with and without a respirator mask. , 1995, American Industrial Hygiene Association journal.

[2]  R F Goldman,et al.  Comparison of physical, biophysical and physiological methods of evaluating the thermal stress associated with wearing protective clothing. , 1972, Ergonomics.

[3]  V Louhevaara,et al.  Cardiorespiratory and thermal effects of wearing gas protective clothing , 1984, International archives of occupational and environmental health.

[4]  F Dukes-Dobos,et al.  Effects of respirators under heat/work conditions. , 1984, American Industrial Hygiene Association journal.

[5]  T K Hodous,et al.  Reduced work tolerance associated with wearing protective clothing and respirators. , 1987, American Industrial Hygiene Association journal.

[6]  I Fairweather,et al.  Thermoregulatory response to wearing encapsulated protective clothing during simulated work in various thermal environments. , 1994, American Industrial Hygiene Association journal.

[7]  G. Borg.  Psychophysical bases of perceived exertion. , 1982, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[8]  A T Johnson,et al.  Respirator performance rating tables for nontemperate environments. , 1992, American Industrial Hygiene Association journal.

[9]  O T Skretvedt,et al.  Effect of facial hair on the face seal of negative-pressure respirators. , 1984, American Industrial Hygiene Association journal.

[10]  J D Hardy,et al.  Comfort and thermal sensations and associated physiological responses at various ambient temperatures. , 1967, Environmental research.

[11]  R K Oestenstad,et al.  The effect of the growth of facial hair on protection factors for one model of closed-circuit, pressure-demand, self-contained breathing apparatus. , 1983, American Industrial Hygiene Association journal.

[12]  Arthur T. Johnson,et al.  Biomechanics and exercise physiology , 1991 .

[13]  A B DuBois,et al.  The effect of temperature and humidity levels in a protective mask on user acceptability during exercise. , 1987, American Industrial Hygiene Association journal.

[14]  J Faff,et al.  Physiological responses to working with fire fighting equipment in the heat in relation to subjective fatigue. , 1989, Ergonomics.

[15]  J D Ramsey,et al.  Monitoring performance as a function of work-rest schedule and thermal stress. , 1973, American Industrial Hygiene Association journal.