Physiological Reactions of Female Workers in Indian Agricultural Work

Abstract

The physiological reactions of eight female workers in agricultural tasks and in leisure time activities were determined with a view to standardizing occupational workload. Maximal oxygen uptake (V_{02 max} ) was 1.892 L per minute. Their daily energy intake was 11.06 MJ, of which 85.4% was derived from carbohydrate. Pulmonary ventilation varied from 9.5 (pounding helper) to 26.4 (pounding alone) L/min. Maximum pulmonary ventilations in the tasks were only 27 to 31% of maximum breathing capacity. Average work pulse rate in many tasks was more than 130 beats per minute. Pounding alone or in pairs and digging dry soil are the heaviest jobs, while harvesting, transplanting, uprooting, and carrying loads are moderately heavy. Whole day energy expenditure was 10.61 MJ, of which 52% was expended for the working day, while physiological cost per unit time corresponds to 28% of V_{02 max} The workloads of the females were within reasonable limits.