Barometric and Vapor Pressure Influences on Insensible Weight Loss

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Abstract
To determine the dependency of human insensible weight loss on barometric and water vapor pressure, three nude subjects were exposed to barometric pressures of 760, 506 and 253 mm Hg in combination with water vapor pressures of 6, 16 and 26 mm Hg. Chamber temperature was kept constant at 28°C and air movement was kept at measured low levels. The subjects were free from sweating under these conditions. Total weight loss was measured directly. Under these conditions, using an orthogonal square design technique, it was found that total body weight loss in a sweat-free subject is inversely dependent on both water vapor pressure and barometric pressure. This affirms the hypothesis that insensible weight loss is dependent on physical factors. The calculated skin insensible weight loss is also inversely dependent on barometric pressure, but is not clearly related to vapor pressure. Submitted on July 30, 1957

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