THERMAL BALANCE OF MEN WORKING IN SEVERE HEAT

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Abstract
Clothed men working for 6 hrs. at a metabolic rate of 190 Cal./m.2/hr. in an air temp. of 50[degree]C dry bulb and 28.3[degree]C wet bulb attained thermal equilibrium during the 3rd and 4th hours, and then experienced pronounced secondary rises in both skin and rectal temps. during the 5th and 6th hrs. The failure in heat regulation was due to decreased sweating. When clad in shorts, the men could continue in thermal equilibrium through 6 hrs. Evaporation directly from the skin was more efficient in cooling the men than evaporation from moist clothing. Gradual fatigue of the sweating mechanism of the men in these 6-hr. expts. always occurred when their skin temps. were maintained constant at high levels (35[degree]-37[degree]C) for long periods, and when their initial rates of sweating in the exposures were high (650g./m.2/hr. or more), the amt. of the decline in sweating being positively correlated with both of these measurements.

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