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Effect of uniform and non-uniform skin temperature on thermal exchanges in water in humans

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Abstract.

We investigated the effect of uniform (UST) and non-uniform (NUST) skin temperature on thermal exchanges during a 3-h water immersion in five male subjects wearing (NUST) or not wearing (UST) a water-perfused garment. UST was achieved by immersing the nude subject in water up to the neck. For each subject, the water temperature was adjusted to the critical temperature (T cw, 31.4 ± 0.9 °C) or 3 °C below T cw (T cw – 3). NUST was achieved by perfusing different segments of the perfused garment with water of different temperatures. The water temperature of the segment was independently adjusted according to the skin temperature distribution in cold air, the mean skin temperature being the same as the UST. At T cw and T cw – 3, changes in esophageal and mean skin temperatures were identical in UST and NUST conditions, but the skin temperature of the trunk was higher and that of the limb was lower in the NUST condition. Heat production and the overall skin heat flux at T cw were identical in the two conditions, but those at T cw – 3 were about 25% lower (P < 0.05) in NUST than in UST conditions. At T cw – 3, the overall tissue insulation was 36% higher (P < 0.05) in NUST than in UST conditions, mainly because of higher limb insulation. Thermogenesis due to shivering was lower by 62% (P < 0.05) in NUST than in UST. We conclude that the NUST condition increased tissue insulation and suppressed shivering. This suggests that a high skin temperature of the trunk attenuates shivering in cold water and increases the ability to defend body temperature more economically in cold water.

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Acknowledgements.

We are grateful for the excellent cooperation of the subjects and the technical assistance of Dr. K. R. Kim. This work was supported by a grant from the Korean Research Foundation ('93 College-Attached Research Institute Supporting Project) and in part by a research grant from Kosin University Medical College (2001).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology and Driving Science Institute, Kosin University Medical College, 34 Amnam-dong, Suh-ku, Pusan 602-702, Republic of Korea

    Jang Kyu Choi, Hye Sook Lee & Yang Saeng Park

  2. Department of Physiology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, Kitakyushu 807, Japan

    Keizo Shiraki

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  1. Jang Kyu Choi
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  2. Hye Sook Lee
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  3. Yang Saeng Park
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  4. Keizo Shiraki
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Correspondence to Jang Kyu Choi.

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Choi, J.K., Lee, H.S., Park, Y.S. et al. Effect of uniform and non-uniform skin temperature on thermal exchanges in water in humans. Int J Biometeorol 47, 80–86 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-002-0152-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-002-0152-0

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