Aerobic Capacity of Steel Workers in India

摘要

Seventy-six workers, aged 21#x2013;43 y. drawn from three major steel plants#x2014;two located in the eastern and one in the central region of India (referred to as Group A, Group B and Group C respectively)#x2014;were studied on the bicycle ergometer to determine their aerobic capacity (VdotO2max), Both the direct and indirect methods were employed, the direct one being used only in the case of the workers in Group C. The mean VdotO2maxof these workers was found to be 42#xB7;6 cm3kg#x2212;1with a standard error of #xB1; 0#xB7;71 cm3kg#x2212;1min#x2212;1. The highest values were observed among the workers in Group B (mean 47#xB7;0#xB1; 1#xB7;35 (S.E.)cm3kg#x2212;1min#x2212;1) who are ethnically distinct and have a high level of customary activity, and the lowest among workers in Group C (mean: 39#xB7;0#xB1;0#xB7;74(S.E.) cm3kg#x2212;1min#x2212;1).