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Related Experiment Videos

Face cooling by cold wind in walking subjects.

Desiree Gavhed1, Tero Mäkinen, Ingvar Holmér

  • 1National Institute for Working Life, 112 79 Stockholm, Sweden. desiree@niwl.se

International Journal of Biometeorology
|May 16, 2003
PubMed
Summary

Cold exposure significantly lowers face temperature, with wind exacerbating cooling. While higher activity levels may reduce frostbite risk in the nose, individual risk remains similar to standing, and the wind chill index may underestimate actual frostbite risk.

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental physiology
  • Human thermoregulation
  • Cold injury prevention

Background:

  • Understanding frostbite risk during cold exposure is crucial for outdoor activities.
  • Previous research has focused on static exposure, with less data on the effects of physical activity.
  • The wind chill index is commonly used to estimate cold stress, but its accuracy under varying conditions needs further evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of low to moderate wind speeds on facial temperature and thermal sensations during walking in cold conditions.
  • To assess the influence of different activity levels on frostbite risk.
  • To compare the findings with existing data from static exposure and evaluate the wind chill index predictions.

Main Methods:

  • Eight healthy men were exposed to -10°C with wind speeds of 0, 1, and 5 m/s for 60 minutes.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Subjects walked on a treadmill at 2.8 km/h with 0° and 6° inclines, while wearing protective clothing (face unprotected).
  • Data from previous experiments involving static standing exposure were incorporated for comparative analysis.

    • Main Results:

    • Cold exposure significantly reduced facial skin temperature, with wind increasing this cooling effect.
    • Higher activity levels did not influence forehead and cheek temperatures but increased average nose skin temperature and reduced pain.
    • Despite potential benefits, 25% of subjects experienced nose skin temperatures dropping to 0°C at 5 m/s during both walking and standing, indicating a persistent individual frostbite risk.

    Conclusions:

    • Exercise may not fully protect all individuals from frostbite at moderate wind speeds.
    • The potential individual risk of frostbite in the nose appears similar during light exercise and standing.
    • The wind chill index may underestimate the actual risk of frostbite under the tested conditions, highlighting the need for more nuanced risk assessment.