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The influence of a low air pressure environment on human metabolic rate during short‐term (< 2 h) exposures
Author(s) -
Cui W.,
Wang H.,
Wu T.,
Ouyang Q.,
Hu S.,
Zhu Y.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
indoor air
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.387
H-Index - 99
eISSN - 1600-0668
pISSN - 0905-6947
DOI - 10.1111/ina.12305
Subject(s) - respiratory quotient , carbon dioxide , metabolic rate , ventilation (architecture) , chemistry , environmental science , respiratory system , atmospheric pressure , significant difference , oxygen , zoology , medicine , meteorology , biology , biochemistry , physics , organic chemistry
Passengers in aircraft cabins are exposed to low‐pressure environments. One of the missing links in the research on thermal comfort under cabin conditions is the influence of low air pressure on the metabolic rate. In this research, we simulated the cabin pressure regime in a chamber in which the pressure level could be controlled. Three pressure levels (101/85/70 kP a) were tested to investigate how metabolic rate changed at different pressure levels. The results show that as pressure decreased, the respiratory flow rate ( RFR ) at standard condition ( STPD : 0°C, 101 kP a) significantly decreased. Yet the oxygen (O 2 ) consumption and carbon dioxide ( CO 2 ) production significantly increased, as reflected in the larger concentration difference between inhaled and exhaled air. A significant increase in the respiratory quotient ( RQ ) was also observed. For metabolic rate, no significant increase ( P > 0.05) was detected when pressure decreased from 101 kP a to 85 kP a; however, the increase associated with a pressure decrease from 85 kP a to 70kPa was significant ( P < 0.05). Empirical equations describing the above parameters are provided, which can be helpful for thermal comfort assessment in short‐haul flights.