Whole-body
heat exchange in women during constant- and variable-intensity work in the heat.
Eur J Appl Physiol 2020;
120:2665-2675. [PMID:
32902693 DOI:
10.1007/s00421-020-04486-3]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE
Time-weighted averaging is used in occupational heat stress guidelines to estimate the metabolic demands of variable-intensity work. However, compared to constant-intensity work of the same time-weighted average metabolic rate, variable-intensity work may cause decrements in total heat loss (dry + evaporative heat loss) that exacerbate heat storage in women. We therefore used direct calorimetry to assess whole-body total heat loss and heat storage (metabolic heat production minus total heat loss) in women and men during constant- and variable-intensity work of equal average intensity.
METHODS
Ten women [mean (SD); 31 (11) years] and fourteen men [30 (8) years] completed two trials involving 90-min of constant- and variable-intensity work (cycling) eliciting an average metabolic heat production of ~ 200 W/m2 in dry-heat (40 °C, ~ 15% relative humidity). External work was fixed at ~ 40 W/m2 for constant-intensity work, and alternated between ~ 15 and ~ 60 W/m2 (5-min each) for variable-intensity work.
RESULTS
When expressed as a time-weighted average over each work period, total heat loss did not differ between men and women (mean difference [95% CI]; 4 W/m2 [- 11, 20]; p = 0.572) or between constant- and variable-intensity work (1 W/m2 [- 3, 5]; p = 0.642). Consequently, heat storage did not differ significantly between men and women (- 4 W/m2 [- 17, 8]; p = 0.468) or between constant- and variable-intensity work (0 W/m2 [- 3, 3]; p = 0.834).
CONCLUSION
Neither whole-body heat loss nor heat storage was modulated by the partitioning of work intensity, indicating that time-weighted averaging is appropriate for estimating metabolic demand to assess occupational heat stress in women.
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