Song Wenfang, Wang Faming, Zhang Chengjiao
Enginnering Research Center for Digital Garment Integrated Innovation, School of Art and Design, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, China; Laboratory for Clothing Physiology and Ergonomics (LCPE), Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
Thermal Environment and Ergonomics Group (TEEG), Institute of Textiles and Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China; Laboratory for Clothing Physiology and Ergonomics (LCPE), Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
J Therm Biol. 2019 Jan;79:33-41. doi: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2018.11.012. Epub 2018 Nov 26.
Many documented studies have demonstrated the human mortality rate increases during severe heatwaves. There remains a need for further explore ecologically valid cooling strategies to alleviate body heat strain during extreme heatwaves. The main aim of this work was to explore whether intermittent wetting clothing can be served as an ecologically valid cooling strategy to mitigate heat stress on inactive vulnerable populations not having access to air-conditioning during a severe heatwave. Ten young male subjects underwent two 90-min separate trials: a dry clothing trial (i.e., CON) and a wetted clothing cooling trial (i.e., WEC). A set of light summer wear was chosen and intermittently wetted by tap water at intervals of every 30 min. Physiological and perceptual responses of subjects were examined and compared. All trials were performed in a chamber with an air temperature of 43 ± 0.5 °C, RH= 57 ± 5% and an air velocity of 0.15 ± 0.05 m/s (WBGT=37.35 °C). Results demonstrated that WEC, compared with CON, could significantly reduce both the mean skin temperature and the core temperature throughout the 5-90th min and 25-90th min of the trial, respectively (p < 0.05). Besides, WEC could also remarkable reduce local skin temperatures at those body sites covered by wet clothing (p < 0.05). In comparison, no significant difference was found between WEC and CON on perceptual responses. Further, it was also found from PHS simulations that conditions with a partial water vapour pressure ≤ 3.1-3.5 kPa would not induce pronounced core temperature rises at 43 °C. Finally, it may be concluded that intermittent wetting clothing could be served as an ecologically valid cooling strategy to reduce thermophysiological strain of vulnerable populations while seating during humid heatwaves and thereby improve their health and safety.
许多有记录的研究表明，在严重热浪期间人类死亡率会上升。仍有必要进一步探索生态有效的降温策略，以减轻极端热浪期间的身体热应激。这项工作的主要目的是探讨间歇性浸湿衣物是否可作为一种生态有效的降温策略，以减轻在严重热浪期间无法使用空调的不活动易感人群的热应激。10名年轻男性受试者进行了两项90分钟的独立试验：干衣试验（即CON）和湿衣降温试验（即WEC）。选择了一套轻薄的夏季服装，每隔30分钟用自来水间歇性浸湿。对受试者的生理和感知反应进行了检查和比较。所有试验均在温度为43±0.5°C、相对湿度=57±5%、风速为0.15±0.05米/秒（湿球黑球温度=37.35°C）的室内进行。结果表明，与CON相比，WEC在试验的第5至90分钟和第25至90分钟期间，可分别显著降低平均皮肤温度和核心温度（p<0.05）。此外，WEC还可显著降低湿衣覆盖身体部位的局部皮肤温度（p<0.05）。相比之下，WEC和CON在感知反应方面没有显著差异。此外，从PHS模拟中还发现，在43°C时，部分水汽压≤3.1-3.5kPa的条件不会导致核心温度明显升高。最后，可以得出结论，间歇性浸湿衣物可作为一种生态有效的降温策略，以降低潮湿热浪期间久坐的易感人群的热生理应激，从而改善他们的健康和安全状况。
