Increase of Heat Loss by Subjects Wearing Gloves and Boots Working in Cold Water in Wet-suited

抄録

The effect of wearing protective gloves and boots on thermal exchanges of wet-suited subjects in cold water was evaluated. Four male subjects, clad in 5 mm-thick neoprene wet suits and either with or without neoprene gloves (5 mm-thick) and boots (5 mm-thick) were immersed up to the neck in water at 13 iC while resting for 3 h or exercising for 2 h. Rectal temperature, oxygen consumption and local (chest, back, upper arm, thigh, forearm, calf, hand and foot) skin temperatures, skin heat fluxes and thermal insulations were determined during immersion. The rectal temperature was not different between conditions but the skin tempera-ture was significantly higher with gloves and boots, especially at the distal extremities (forearm, calf, hand and foot). Consequently, the core-to-skin temperature gradient was reduced by wearing gloves and boots, but the skin heat loss was markedly increased. Calculated overall body insulation was significantly lowered by wearing gloves and boots. These results indicate that in wet-suited subjects resting or exercising in cold (13°C) water, gloves and boots increase the overall rate of body heat loss. Attenuation of cold-induced vasoconstriction is proposed as the mechanism.