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Pulmonary and heart rate responses to wearing N95 filtering facepiece respirators.
- Source :
-
American journal of infection control [Am J Infect Control] 2013 Jan; Vol. 41 (1), pp. 24-7. Date of Electronic Publication: 2012 Sep 01. - Publication Year :
- 2013
-
Abstract
- Background: Filtering facepiece respirators are the most common respirator worn by US health care and industrial workers, yet little is known on the physiologic impact of wearing this protective equipment.<br />Methods: Twenty young, healthy subjects exercised on a treadmill at a low-moderate (5.6 km/h) work rate while wearing 4 different models of N95 filtering facepiece respirators for 1 hour each, 2 models of which were equipped with exhalation valves, while being monitored for physiologic variables.<br />Results: Compared with controls, respirator use was associated with mean 1 hour increases in heart rate (range, 5.7-10.6 beats per minute, P < .001), respiratory rate (range, 1.4-2.4 breaths per minute, P < .05), and transcutaneous carbon dioxide (range, 1.7-3.0 mm Hg, P < .001). No significant differences in oxygen saturation between controls and respirators were noted (P > .05).<br />Conclusion: The pulmonary and heart rate responses to wearing a filtering facepiece respirator for 1 hour at a low-moderate work rate are relatively small and should generally be well tolerated by healthy persons.<br /> (Published by Mosby, Inc.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1527-3296
- Volume :
- 41
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- American journal of infection control
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 22944510
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2012.02.037