Effects of a modified through-mask drinking system (MDS) on fluid intake during exercise in chemical protective gear. Report for January-May 1989

Technical Report · Thu Oct 12 04:00:00 EDT 1989

OSTI ID:6951047

Szlyk, P C; Sils, I V; Tharion, W J; Francesconi, R P; Mahnke, R B

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of a modified through-mask drinking system (MDS) on voluntary fluid consumption. Eighteen male volunteers walked on a treadmill (4.02 km/hr, 0 deg. grade, 50 min/hr for 6 hr) in a climatic chamber (dry bulb=32.6 deg C, wet bulb=17.5 deg C, 20.4% relative humidity, and windspeed=8.05 km/hr, producing a WBGT of 22.1 deg C). Subjects wore chemical protective gear (trousers, jacket, boots, gloves, and M17A1 protective mask) and were randomly assigned one of two through-mask and were randomly assigned one of two through-mask drinking systems: CS (n=9), the current gravity fed system or MDS (n=9), a prototype hand-pump drinking system. Because decontamination of the mask and drinking connections was performed prior to drinking, the overall use of the CS was rated significantly more difficult during both work and rest than the MDS. Failure to decontaminate connections prior to drinking was noted early in the trial in 2 soldiers using the CS suggesting an increase risk of accidental contamination associated with this system. Drinking with the MDS had no measurable adverse effect on hydration status of the test subjects: water intake rate, 0.36 L/hr (CS) and 0.42 L/hr (MDS); sweat rate, 0.63 L/hr (CS) and 0.67 L/hr (MDS); body weight loss, 0.32 %/hr (CS) and 0.31 %/hr (MDS).

• Research Organization: Army Research Inst. of Environmental Medicine, Natick, MA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6951047
• Report Number(s): AD-A-217970/3/XAB; USARIEM-T--1-90
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420202 -- Engineering-- Protective Structures & Equipment
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450600* -- Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense-- Chemical & Biological-- (1990)
ACCIDENTS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL WASTES
BODY FLUIDS
CHEMICAL WARFARE AGENTS
CLEANING
CLIMATES
CLOTHING
CONTAMINATION
DECONTAMINATION
DRINKING WATER
EXERCISE
FLUIDS
GEARS
GLOVES
HYDRATION
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MACHINE PARTS
MALES
MATERIALS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
SOLVATION
SWEAT
WASTES
WATER
WEAPONS
WEIGHT