Validation and adjustment of the mathematical prediction model for human rectal temperature responses to outdoor environmental conditions.

Abstract

Models to predict rectal temperature (Tre) have been based on indoor laboratory studies. The present study was conducted to validate and adjust a previously suggested model for outdoor environmental conditions. Four groups of young male volunteers were exposed to three different climatic conditions (30 degrees C, 65% rh; 31 degrees C, 41% rh; 40 degrees C, 20% rh). They were tested both in shaded and open field areas (radiation: 80 and 900 W.m-2, respectively) at different work loads (100, 300 and 450 watt). Exercise consisted of two bouts of 10 minutes rest and 50 minutes walking on a treadmill, at a constant speed (1.4 m.s-1) and different grades. The subjects were tested wearing cotton fatigues and protective garments. Their Tre and heart rate were monitored every 5 min and skin temperature every 15 min, oxygen uptake was measured towards the end of each bout of exercise; concomitantly, ambient temperature, relative humidity and solar load were monitored. We concluded that: (a) the corrected model to predict rectal temperature overestimates the actual measurements when applied outdoors; (b) radiative and convective heat exchanges should be considered separately when using the model outdoors; (c) radiative heat exchange should also be considered separately for short-wave radiation (solar radiation) and long-wave emission from the body to the atmosphere. Finally, an adjusted model to be used outdoors was suggested.