The Rate of Water Loss from the Respiratory Tract of Man Living in a Subtropical Climate

Abstract

The water loss from the resp. tract of 107 normal [male] and [female] White and Negro adults in a room temp. of 20.0-21.1 [degree]C. and relative humidity of 55-60% was studied by a gravimetric method. The expired water was condensed in cold A1 coils for weighing. The rate of water loss was: mean 0.878 [plus or minus] 0.030 g./m.2/10 min.; range 0.527-1.172; standard deviation 0.333 +. 0.021 and coeff. of variation, 37.90 + 2.49%. There were no significant sex or race differences. The correlation coeff. between the rate of loss and the rate of ventilation of the respiratory tract with air was 0.91 + 0.02. The rate of loss varied with exercise, temp. and relative humidity. The mean temp. of the expired air was 33.19 [plus or minus] 0.21 [degree]C., extremes 31.6 and 34.2 and the mean relative humidity 88.15 [plus or minus] 1.31%, extremes 78 and 96. The expired air was believed not saturated and its temp. and relative humidity varied with the conditions of air inspired.