FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-63/25

Title and Subtitle: A method for the measurement of physiologic evaporative water loss

Report Date: October 1963

Authors: Adams T, Funkhouser GE, Kendall WW

Abstract: The precise measurement of evaporative water loss is essential to an accurate evaluation of this avenue of heat loss in acute and chronic exposures to heat. In psychological studies, the quantitative measurement of palmar sweating plays an equally important role in establishing an index of emotional stress and anxiety.

This report describes a technique for measuring local sweat response which is relatively inexpensive, highly stable and accurate. Basically, the system uses a thermal conductivity cell for the detection of water vapor in an air stream passing over the skin. A method for calibration of the unit and examples of its application in physiological and psychological testing are described.

Key Words: heat loss, evaporative water loss, measuring psychological and physiological stress.

No. of Pages: 17