Y. Bhambhani et al., COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGICAL-RESPONSES OF EXERCISING MEN AND WOMEN TO 5-PPM HYDROGEN-SULFIDE EXPOSURE, American Industrial Hygiene Association journal, 55(11), 1994, pp. 1030-1035
A study compared the effects of inhalation of 5 ppm hydrogen sulfide (
50% of its occupational exposure limit) on the physiological and hemat
ological responses of healthy men and women during exercise. Subjects
were 13 men (mean +/- SD for age, height, and weight = 24.7 +/- 4.6 yr
, 173 +/- 6.6 cm, 73.1 +/- 8.1 kg, respectively) and 12 women (mean +/
- SD for age, height, and weight = 22.0 +/- 2.1 yr, 165 +/- 8.2 cm, 63
.4 +/- 8.6 kg, respectively). Subjects completed two 30-minute exercis
e tests on a cycle ergometer at 50% of their predetermined maximal aer
obic power while breathing medical air or 5 ppm H2S from a specially d
esigned flow system. The results indicated that there were no signific
ant differences between the two exposures for the metabolic (oxygen up
take, carbon dioxide production, respiratory exchange ratio), cardiova
scular (heart rate, blood pressure, rate pressure product), arterial.
blood (oxygen and carbon dioxide tensions, pH), and perceptual (rating
of perceived exertion) responses in either sex. None of the subjects
reported any adverse health effects subsequent to the H2S exposure. Th
ese results suggest that healthy men and women can safely perform mode
rate intensity work in environments contaminated with 5 ppm H2S.