Physiological problems associated with wearing NBC protective clothing during cold weather

This report considers how thermal balance of soldiers wearing nuclear, biol ogical and chemical (NBC) protective clothing in combination with the Extre me Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS) is affected during work in cold wea ther. A review of published reports concerning physiological consequences o f wearing NBC protective clothing during cold exposure was completed. The f indings reported in the experimental literature were too limited to adequat ely forecast the effects of adding NBC clothing to ECWCS. To remedy the inf ormation gap, simulation modeling was employed to predict body temperature changes during alternating bouts of exercise and rest throughout 8 h of exp osure to three different severely cold conditions. Published findings indic ate that NBC protective clothing may inadequately protect against hand and finger cooling, especially during rest following strenuous activity. No evi dence substantiates suggestions that wearing NBC protective masks increases susceptibility to facial frostbite. Collectively, die limited experimental work and the results of simulation modeling argue against any increased ri sk of hypothermia associated with wearing NBC protective clothing while wor king in the cold. However, wearing NBC protective clothing during strenuous activity in cold weather may increase the risk of hyperthermia, and cause sweat accumulation in clothing which may compromise insulation and increase the risk of hypothermia during subsequent periods of inactivity.