Gender difference in diurnal change in psychological and physiological responses to consistent high relative humidity

Abstract

Diurnal change in physiological and psychological responses to thermal environment at consistent relative humidity (rh) was investigated to test its gender difference. Lightly clothed seven and seven female subjects participated in the experiment where rh was maintained at 60% rh, 70% rh and 80 % rh at air temperature (Ta) of 28℃ from 9 h00 to 18 h00. Skin temperatures and local heat flux rates at four sites and tympanic temperature were continuously monitored at 2-min intervals throughout the experimental period. Body weight loss, oxygen consumption rate were measured during the periods of 9 h30-10 h30, 13 h30-14 h30 and 17 h00-18 h00. In addition, thermal sensation and comfort votes were recorded at the same time. The results showed gender difference in physiological and psychological responses to thermal environment at consistent high relative humidity.