Physiological and biophysical limits to work in the heat for clothed men and women

Heat-acclimated, lightly clothed men and women (four of each) walked on a treadmill at 25% and 43% VO2 max, respectively, (M =194 W.m-2), under seven air temperatures (Ta) ranging from 36 to 52 degrees C. Each experiment involved 1 h of fixed and a 2nd h of progressively increasing ambient vapor pressure (Pa). The relative steady state of rectal temperature (Tre), mean skin temperature (Tsk), and heart rate (HR) reached in the 1st h were forced upward during the 2nd h by the rising Pa. The critical air vapor pressure (Pcrit) was identified by the Tre point of inflection for each Ta. One man did not fully reach steady state, but inflection could be determined for his physiological responses. The mean values of all points of inflection were calculated for Tre, Tsk, and HR. Significant sex difference in HR was found only by excluding the results of the one man. Tre and Tsk showed no significant difference between men and women. The coefficient for evaporative heat transfer (he), which could be derived using the Pcrit for the low Ta range, was 14.5 +/- 2.2 W.m-1 Torr-1.