REPRODUCIBILITY OF BODY-TEMPERATURE RESPONSE TO STANDARDIZED TEST CONDITIONS WHEN ASSESSING CLOTHING

The traditional use of core temperature to assess the thermal effects of clothing has recently been questioned. The purpose of this study wa s to assess the reproducibility of body temperature in five subjects ( mean age, 22.6 +/- 1.5 yrs) wearing either athletic clothing or a chem ical protective overgarment while exercising at 20 degrees C and at 40 degrees C. The exercise was preceded by a 1 h adaptation period in a controlled environmental chamber. Results indicated that mean group ch ange in rectal temperature (Delta T-r) appeared to be reproducible for both garment ensembles at 20 degrees C but not at 40 degrees C. For m ean change in oesophageal temperature (Delta T-oes) at 20 degrees C, r eproducibility was obtained for the overgarment but not for the athlet ic garment; at 40 degrees C, mean Delta T-oes appeared to be reproduci ble with both garments. However, when individual responses were examin ed, there was little reproducibility for either Delta T-r or Delta T-o es. In addition, these measurements failed to show differences in the types of clothing worn. It was concluded that the use of core temperat ure to assess heat stress imposed by wearing clothing during exercise may lead to erroneous conclusions.