Physiological Responses in Air Traffic Control Personnel: Houston Intercontinental Tower,

Abstract

Biochemical and physiological indices of stress showed that the level of stress of 16 air traffic controllers at the Houston Intercontinental Airport Tower was indistinguishable from that of control populations. While the level of stress was lower than that among O'Hare Tower controllers, both groups showed about the same degree of adaptation. Day work (heavy traffic load) at Houston was characterized by elevated levels of all stress indicators as compared with the mid-shift (light traffic); epinephrine excretion increased significantly during the last half of the mid-shift as compared with the first half. Urinary stress indicators (17-ketogenic steroids, epinephrine, norepinephrine) were all significantly elevated during day sleep as compared with night sleep, indicating less effective rest during day sleep. (Modified author abstract)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1973
Accession Number
AD0777838

Entities

People

  • B. David Polis
  • C. E. Melton
  • J. M. Mckenzie
  • J. T. Saldivar Jr.
  • Marlene Hoffman

Organizations

  • Civil Aeromedical Institute

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Air Traffic
  • Air Traffic Controllers
  • Cooperation
  • Epinephrine
  • Excretion
  • Indicators
  • Norepinephrine
  • Traffic

Readers

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Circadian Sleep-Wake Regulation and Chronobiology
  • Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of Proposed Air Force Base Actions.