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Respirators (respiratory personal protective devices), used for protection against occupational toxic exposures, may impose flow resistance and dead space respiratory loading. Effects of exercise level, a 300 mL deadspace and single respirator cartridge inspiratory load were determined in ten healthy volunteers. Subjects tended to limit peak work rate (pressure generated and pressure×flow) and to prolong the inspiratory portion of the respiratory cycle due to respirator use. O2 consumption and heart rate were not significantly affected. The qualitative response was not affected by exercise level. During submaximal exercise, normal subjects did not reach their compensation limits for the variables studied.