Ueda H, Inoue Y, Araki T, Matsudaira M
Osaka Shin-ai College, Japan.
Int J Biometeorol. 1996 Sep;39(3):127-32. doi: 10.1007/BF01211224.
To examine the effects of age-related differences in thermoregulatory function on the clothing microclimate temperature (Tm) and Tm fluctuations while maintaining thermal comfort in daily life, 5 boys (group B, 10-11 years), 5 young men (group Y, 20-21 years) and 5 older men (group O, 60-65 years) volunteered to take part in this study. The subjects were asked to maintain thermal comfort as closely as possible in their daily lives. Tm (temperatures between the skin surface and the innermost garment) at four sites (chest, back, upper arm, and thigh), skin temperature on the chest (Tchest) and ambient temperature (Ta) were measured over a period of 8-12 h from morning to evening on one day in each of the seasons, spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Records of ability to maintain thermal comfort and of adjustment of their clothes were kept by each subject. Ta during periods of thermal comfort did not differ among the groups in any of the seasons. In group Y, Tm was significantly lower at the thigh than at the other sites in spring, autumn, and winter (P < 0.05) and fluctuations (CV) of Tm were significantly larger at the thigh than at other sites in autumn and winter (P < 0.05). Similar tendencies were observed for Tm and CV of Tm in group B. However, Tm and CV of Tm in group O did not differ by site except for the autumn Tm. Group O had a smaller CV at the thigh in winter (P < 0.05), compared to groups B and Y, suggesting a smaller regional difference in Tm fluctuation in group O. Group O adjusted their clothes even on the lower limbs (together with upper body) in order to maintain thermal comfort in accordance with changes in Ta, while groups B and Y did so only on their upper bodies. These results suggest that compared to boys and young men, lower thermoregulatory function in older men may affect Tm and CV of Tm as a result of clothing on lower limbs being adjusted differently in order to maintain thermal comfort.
为了研究体温调节功能的年龄差异对衣物微气候温度（Tm）及Tm波动的影响，同时在日常生活中维持热舒适，5名男孩（B组，10 - 11岁）、5名青年男性（Y组，20 - 21岁）和5名老年男性（O组，60 - 65岁）自愿参与本研究。受试者被要求在日常生活中尽可能维持热舒适。在春、夏、秋、冬四季的某一天，从早到晚8 - 12小时内测量四个部位（胸部、背部、上臂和大腿）的Tm（皮肤表面与最内层衣物之间的温度）、胸部皮肤温度（Tchest）和环境温度（Ta）。每位受试者记录维持热舒适的能力及衣物调整情况。在任何季节的热舒适期间，各组的Ta均无差异。在Y组中，春季、秋季和冬季大腿处的Tm显著低于其他部位（P < 0.05），秋季和冬季大腿处Tm的波动（CV）显著大于其他部位（P < 0.05）。B组的Tm及Tm的CV也观察到类似趋势。然而，O组除秋季的Tm外，Tm及Tm的CV在各部位无差异。与B组和Y组相比，O组冬季大腿处的CV较小（P < 0.05），表明O组Tm波动的区域差异较小。O组会根据Ta的变化，甚至对下肢（连同上身）进行衣物调整以维持热舒适，而B组和Y组仅对上半身进行调整。这些结果表明，与男孩和青年男性相比，老年男性较低的体温调节功能可能会影响Tm及Tm的CV，这是因为为维持热舒适，下肢衣物的调整方式有所不同。
