COMPARISONS OF VENTILATORY CAPACITIES AMONG FISHING DIVERS, NURSES, AND TELEPHONE OPERATORS IN JAPANESE FEMALES

Abstract

1. Vital capacities and maximum breathing capacities were measured in fishing divers, nurses, and telephone operators with 20-39 years of age, together with maximum breathing rates and air velocity indices.
2. Four ventilatory values were highest in fishing divers, and lowest in telephone operators. However, the difference in vital capacity was relatively small.
3. Per cents of the measured vital capacities to the predicted were approximately 110, 100, and 100 in fishing divers, nurses, and telephone operators, respectively, whereas those of the measured maximum breathing capacities to the predicted were roughly 140, 100, and 90, respectively, in three groups.
4. Accordingly, the air velocity index and the maximum breathing rate were remarkably high in fishing divers and considerably low in telephone operators.
5. On the basis of these special features, it appears that the dynamic respiratory function is more affected by occupation, or more strictly to say, by daily exertion than the static function.