TY - JOUR
T1 - Surgical masks do not increase the risk of heat stroke during mild exercise in hot and humid environment
AU - Kato, Issei
AU - Masuda, Yuta
AU - Nagashima, Kei
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science KAKENHI Grant-in-Aid for Scien-
Funding Information:
This study was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science KAKENHI Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research A 19H01128 (to K. Nagashima).
Publisher Copyright:
©️2021 National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.
PY - 2021/10
Y1 - 2021/10
N2 - Surgical masks are widely used for the prevention of respiratory infections. However, the risk of heat stroke during intense work or exercise in hot and humid environment is a concern. This study aimed to examine whether wearing a surgical mask increases the risk of heat stroke during mild exercise in such environment. Twelve participants conducted treadmill exercise for 30 min at 6 km/h, with 5% slope, 35°C ambient temperature, and 65% relative humidity, while wearing or not a surgical mask (mask and control trials, respectively). Rectal temperature (Trec), ear canal temperature (Tear), and mean skin temperature (mean Tskin) were assessed. Skin temperature and humidity of the perioral area of the face (Tface and RHface) were also estimated. Thermal sensation and discomfort, sensation of humidity, fatigue, and thirst were rated using the visual analogue scale. Trec, Tear, mean Tskin, and Tface increased during the exercise, without any difference between the two trials. RHface during the exercise was greater in the mask trial. Hot sensation was greater in the mask trial, but no influence on fatigue and thirst was found. These results suggest that wearing a surgical mask does not increase the risk of heat stroke during mild exercise in moist heat.
AB - Surgical masks are widely used for the prevention of respiratory infections. However, the risk of heat stroke during intense work or exercise in hot and humid environment is a concern. This study aimed to examine whether wearing a surgical mask increases the risk of heat stroke during mild exercise in such environment. Twelve participants conducted treadmill exercise for 30 min at 6 km/h, with 5% slope, 35°C ambient temperature, and 65% relative humidity, while wearing or not a surgical mask (mask and control trials, respectively). Rectal temperature (Trec), ear canal temperature (Tear), and mean skin temperature (mean Tskin) were assessed. Skin temperature and humidity of the perioral area of the face (Tface and RHface) were also estimated. Thermal sensation and discomfort, sensation of humidity, fatigue, and thirst were rated using the visual analogue scale. Trec, Tear, mean Tskin, and Tface increased during the exercise, without any difference between the two trials. RHface during the exercise was greater in the mask trial. Hot sensation was greater in the mask trial, but no influence on fatigue and thirst was found. These results suggest that wearing a surgical mask does not increase the risk of heat stroke during mild exercise in moist heat.
KW - Core body temperature
KW - Evaporative heat loss
KW - Fatigue
KW - Heat load
KW - Hyperthermia
KW - Respiration
KW - Respiratory resistance
KW - Skin temperature
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U2 - 10.2486/indhealth.2021-0072
DO - 10.2486/indhealth.2021-0072
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85117149051
SN - 0019-8366
VL - 59
SP - 325
EP - 333
JO - Industrial Health
JF - Industrial Health
IS - 5
ER -