2007, Piran, Slovenia

Environmental Ergonomics XII
Igor B. Mekjavic, Stelios N. Kounalakis & Nigel A.S. Taylor (Eds.), © BIOMED, Ljubljana 2007
temperature of the water at the inlet (Tin; °C), and outlet (Tout; °C) of the suit was
monitored with T-type thermocouples. Before, and immediately upon completion of a
test, the tympanic temperature (Tty) of the subjects was measured with an infrared
thermometer (ThermoScan IRT 3020, Braun, Kronberg, Germany).
RESULTS
There was an increase in Tty (P=0.07) and mean skin temperature (P=0.08) after BR.
Skin temperature at the extremities (measured at the toe and 3rd fingertip of the hand)
were slightly lower (not significant). Peripheral blood flow (measured by skin
temperature differences between forearm-fingertip and calf-toe) was not significantly
changed after BR, but tended towards vasoconstriction. BR resulted in small changes
in the preferred temperature and its behavioural regulation. The mean Tout, the Tout
at the upper and lower boundaries of the TCZ and the number of button pushes were
not significantly different after 21 days of BR compared to the first day. A trend was
noticed for choosing a lower upper boundary of the TCZ (i.e. decrease in threshold for
warm discomfort) which resulted in a significant decrease (P