Impact of air temperature, relative humidity, air movement and pollution on eye blinking

The effect of indoor air temperature, relative humidity, velocity and pollution on occupants’ eye blink frequency (BF) was examined. In total sixty subjects participated in eight 4 hour experiments without and with facially applied air movement under individual control of the subjects. Air movement of either polluted room air supplied isothermally or clean and cool air was used.

Eye blinking video record for the last 15 min of each exposure were analysed. The increase of the room air temperature and relative humidity from 23 °C and 40% to 26 °C and 70% or to 28 °C and 70% decreased the BF. At temperature of 26 °C and relative humidity of 70% facially applied flow of polluted room air didn’t have significant impact on BF in comparison without air movement.

The increase of BF due to decrease of temperature and humidity and increase of velocity may be compensated due to the increase in air cleanness.