title: Mass spectrometric investigation of the temperature dependence of gas transport through a human body to the lungs.
abstract: This paper shows the results of the experiment on gas dynamic transport of helium from outside through the skin to the lungs of man in conditions of changing temperature and humidity of surroundings. The apparatus includes: an elastic bag in which the whole subject can be saturated by helium; a heating and refrigerating system; a respiratory system; an introduction system to the mass spectrometer; and a mass spectrometer with an ion detector of high sensitivity. The temperature of the surroundings varied from 24 degrees C up to 44 degrees C and humidity varied from 50% up to 95%. The temperature of skin varied from 25 degrees C up to 37 degrees C. Also the temperature oscillations of the period from 1 to 3 min were generated. In effect, those oscillations corresponded with the oscillations of He concentration in the expired air. At the higher level of humidity of the surroundings, a higher concentration of helium in the expired air was observed. At 100% He concentration in the bag, the minimal He concentration in the expired air was 40 ppm and maximal 110 ppm. In the opinion of the authors the thermoregulation system in the body of the subject played a significant role in the observed process of gas transport.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physics M. Curie-Skłodowska University, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Adamczyk
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Boerboom
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kistemaker
mesh_terms: D005740:Gases / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006371:Helium / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D006371:Helium