Abstract
During the peak of an extensive heat wave episode on 23–25 July 2007, simultaneous thermophysiological measurements were made in two non-acclimated healthy adults of different sex in a suburban area of Greater Athens, Greece. Based on experimental measurements of mean skin temperature and metabolic heat production, heat fluxes to and from the human body were calculated, and the biometeorological index heat load (HL) produced was determined according to the heat balance equation. Comparing experimental values with those derived from theoretical estimates revealed a great heat stress for both individuals, especially the male, while theoretical values underestimated heat stress. The study also revealed that thermophysiological factors, such as mean skin temperature and metabolic heat production, play an important role in determining heat fluxes patterns in the heat balance equation. The theoretical values of mean skin temperature as derived from an empirical equation may not be appropriate to describe the changes that take place in a non-acclimated individual. Furthermore, the changes in metabolic heat production were significant even for standard activity.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Mr. G. Giannakos, brigadier medical officer and director of the 1st Pathology clinic of the 417 Veterans Army hospital (NIMTS), for initiating discussions on the present study and for technical support. The financial support of the Special Research account of the University of Athens is also acknowledged.
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Katavoutas, G., Theoharatos, G., Flocas, H.A. et al. Measuring the effects of heat wave episodes on the human body’s thermal balance. Int J Biometeorol 53, 177–187 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-008-0202-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-008-0202-3