Ethnic differences in thermoregulation: Genotypic versus phenotypic heat adaptation

Taylor, Nigel A.S.

doi:10.1016/j.jtherbio.2005.11.007

Cited by 90 publications

(67 citation statements)

References 91 publications

(134 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Since thermal exchanges with the environment occur through the skin, and since heat is stored within the body, then the relationship between the body surface area and its mass forms a decisive determinant of thermal balance. Accordingly, energy-efficient morphological configurations (large mass-specific surface areas) should favour heat tolerance (Taylor 2006).…”

Section: Thermoregulatory Consequencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Load carriage, human performance, and employment standards

Taylor

Peoples

Petersen

2016

Appl. Physiol. Nutr. Metab.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:The focus of this review is on the physiological considerations necessary for developing employment standards within occupations that have a heavy reliance on load carriage. Employees within military, fire fighting, law enforcement, and search and rescue occupations regularly work with heavy loads. For example, soldiers often carry loads >50 kg, whilst structural firefighters wear 20-25 kg of protective clothing and equipment, in addition to carrying external loads. It has long been known that heavy loads modify gait, mobility, metabolic rate, and efficiency, while concurrently elevating the risk of muscle fatigue and injury. In addition, load carriage often occurs within environmentally stressful conditions, with protective ensembles adding to the thermal burden of the workplace. Indeed, physiological strain relates not just to the mass and dimensions of carried objects, but to how those loads are positioned on and around the body. Yet heavy loads must be borne by men and women of varying body size, and with the expectation that operational capability will not be impinged. This presents a recruitment conundrum. How do employers identify capable and injury-resistant individuals while simultaneously avoiding discriminatory selection practices? In this communication, the relevant metabolic, cardiopulmonary, and thermoregulatory consequences of loaded work are reviewed, along with concomitant impediments to physical endurance and mobility. Also emphasised is the importance of including occupation-specific clothing, protective equipment, and loads during work-performance testing. Finally, recommendations are presented for how to address these issues when evaluating readiness for duty.Key words: backpacks, firefighter, load carriage, oxygen cost, military, employment standards, ventilation, work of breathing.Résumé : Cette analyse documentaire traite principalement des aspects physiologiques essentiels à l'élaboration de normes d'emploi pour des postes dont la fonction majeure est le transport de charges. Les employés dans l'armée, les pompiers, la police, les membres de recherche et sauvetage travaillent régulièrement avec de lourdes charges. Par exemple, les soldats transportent souvent des charges de >50 kg et les pompiers de bâtiments portent un vêtement de protection pesant de 20 à 25 kg et déplacent aussi des charges externes. On sait depuis longtemps que le port de charges lourdes modifie la démarche, la mobilité, le taux métabolique et le rendement tout en augmentant le risque de fatigue musculaire et de blessure. De plus, le déplacement des charges est effectué fréquemment dans des conditions environnementales stressantes et les vêtements de protection accroissent la charge thermique dans cet endroit. En outre, la contrainte physiologique ne dépend pas seulement de la masse et des dimensions des objets à déplacer, mais aussi de leur positionnement sur et autour du corps. Pourtant, il faut que ces charges soient déplacées par des hommes et des femmes de gabarit divers dont les capacités opérationnell...

show abstract

Section: Thermoregulatory Consequencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Load carriage, human performance, and employment standards

Taylor

Peoples

Petersen

2016

Appl. Physiol. Nutr. Metab.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Natural acclimatisation is universally recognised to be the most effective means by which to increase heat tolerance 19,72) , particularly within climates that experience wide seasonal swings in air temperature 36,68,71) . However, its practical limitations minimise its use for many occupational and sporting groups, resulting in the development of a wide range of heat adaptation (acclimation) techniques.…”

Section: Heat Adaptationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges to Temperature Regulation When Working in Hot Environments

Taylor

2006

Ind Health

Self Cite

111

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The focus of this review is upon acute exposure to hot environments and the accompanying physiological changes. The target audience includes physiologists, physicians and occupational health and safety practitioners. Using the principles of thermodynamics, the avenues for human heat exchange are explored, leading to an evaluation of some methods used to assess thermally-stressful environments. In particular, there is a critique of the wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) index, and an overview of an alternative means by which such assessments may be undertaken (the heat stress index). These principles and methods are combined to illustrate how one may evaluate the risk of heat illness. Three general areas of research are briefly reviewed: the physiological impact of wearing thermal protective clothing, heat adaptation (acclimation) and whole-body pre-cooling. These topics are considered as potential pre-exposure techniques that may be used to reduce the threat of hyperthermia, or to enhance work performance in the heat.

show abstract

“…Heat acclimatization is triggered as a response to a variety of complex environmental factors in hot climates. Over the past half century, a number of studies on heat acclimatization have been reported in terms of physiological adaptation (Lee et al, 2011b;Saat and Tochihara, 2008;Taylor, 2006;Wakabayashi et al, 2011;. Though heat acclimatization in psycho-physiological traits has been a relatively neglected area of research, several interesting studies have been conducted.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%