• Corpus ID: 8231516

Physiological impairments of individuals at low indoor air humidity

@inproceedings{Pfluger2013PhysiologicalIO,
  title={Physiological impairments of individuals at low indoor air humidity},
  author={Rainer Pfluger and Wolfgang Feist and Andreas Tietjen and Andreas Neher},
  year={2013}
}

• Rainer Pfluger, W. Feist, +1 author A. Neher
• Published 2013
• Medicine

The indoor air humidity affects the human organism and in particular the eyes, mucous membranes and skin. Notably in the range of particular low humidity phy siological disturbances occur, which could cause specific pathogenic symptoms especially in case of respective predispositions. The focus of this work is put on studies with subjects under controlled clinical tri al conditions. Field trials, which are based only o n a statistical analysis of subjective survey results, are less sig nificant. Based on a literature review and the medical expert ise of the co-authors on the current state of science a nd research from the medical specialties of ophthal mology, dermatology and otolaryngology, the physiological e ffects of low indoor air humidity are gathered, ana lysed and evaluated. A significant negative impact on the quality and st ability of the tear film of the eye was shown to be a consistent result of independent studies. More diff erentiated results and remaining need for research exist in terms of the upper and lower respiratory tract and the mucous membranes. An important finding is, that e impairment of mucociliary clearance in low indoor a ir humidity increases with the age of the subjects. Regarding the effects on the skin, predispositions also play a significant role.