CO2 and O2 concentrations in integral motorcycle helmets

Inhaling air which contains excess CO2 and/or is oxygen-deficient is known to present health risks and to diminish human cognitive abilities. The average CO2 concentrations relevant to a motorcyclist wearing an integral helmet were measured 20 years ago and found to be alarmingly large. The purpose...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied ergonomics Vol. 36; no. 5; pp. 625 - 633
Main Authors: Brühwiler, P.A., Stämpfli, R., Huber, R., Camenzind, M.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Oxford Elsevier 01.09.2005
Elsevier Science Ltd
Subjects:
Air Pollutants - analysis
Applied physiology
Biological and medical sciences
Carbon dioxide
Carbon Dioxide - analysis
Cognitive ability
Environmental Exposure - analysis
Equipment Design
Ergonomics. Work place. Occupational physiology
Head Protective Devices
Health risks
Helmets
Human physiology applied to population studies and life conditions. Human ecophysiology
Humans
Inhalation Exposure - analysis
Manikins
Medical sciences
Motorcycles
Oxygen - analysis
Protective equipment
Wind
Human
CO2 concentration
Oxygen
Motorcycle
Person protection
Toxicity
Deficiency
Inhaled air
Cognitive ability
Carbon dioxide
Motor cycle
Motor vehicle
Individual safety equipment
Helmet
Ergonomics
ISSN:0003-6870, 1872-9126
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Inhaling air which contains excess CO2 and/or is oxygen-deficient is known to present health risks and to diminish human cognitive abilities. The average CO2 concentrations relevant to a motorcyclist wearing an integral helmet were measured 20 years ago and found to be alarmingly large. The purpose of the present study was to examine gas concentrations typically inhaled by a motorcyclist. Average concentrations of CO2 near the upper lip for persons (n = 4) wearing integral motorcycle helmets were measured in the laboratory and the field to facilitate comparison to previous work, and similarly high average concentrations were found: above 2% when stationary, well below 1% for speeds of 50 km/h or more. Very good agreement was obtained between laboratory and field measurements. Detailed measurements of the time-dependent CO2 concentrations passing through a mouthpiece for mouth-breathing showed inhaled levels slightly over half of the corresponding average concentrations, including 1.3+/-0.3% at standstill, though higher concentrations (4% or more) were inhaled at the beginning of each breath. Opening the visor at standstill had on average no effect. At a speed of 50 km/h the inhaled CO2 concentration resembles that for a person without a helmet in still air, at about 0.2%. The oxygen deficiency is generally equal to the CO2 concentration, and could also contribute negatively to a motorcyclist's cognitive abilities.
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ISSN:0003-6870
1872-9126
DOI:10.1016/j.apergo.2005.01.018