Pilot study predicting core body temperatures in hot work environments using thermal imagery

Abstract

Introduction Heat stress can lead to various health issues that include heat rash, heat exhaustion, heat syncope, cramps, and heat stroke. Core body temperature, a reliable and accepted measurement for heat stress, can only be assessed via invasive means such as ingestible thermometer pills and rectal thermometers. The goal of this study was to determine a more convenient method of assessing heat stress by comparing temperature measurements from thermometer pills to measurements of a participant’s face taken with an infrared camera. Methods Workers at hot worksites had their temperatures recorded via ingestible thermometer pill and infrared camera over the course of a daytime work shift. Multivariate linear regression was used to evaluate the relationship, if any, between the thermometer pill and infrared camera while taking into account additional factors such as indoor and outdoor temperatures, age, gender, and BMI. Results/discussion A Pearson Correlation Coefficient of r = 0.611 was found. This is a strong correlation and shows potential for the infrared camera as a non-invasive alternative to the thermometer pill and rectal thermometer. One thermometer pill measurement of 86 °C was excluded due to verbal confirmation from the participant that they had taken a drink of water prior to measurement. Conclusions Statistical results showed that the ability of the infrared camera to successfully predict core body temperature measurements taken thermometer pill was strong (r = 0.611). More research should be conducted during times with warm outdoor temperatures and with larger sample sizes.