Physiological Responses to Changes in Relative Humidity in Thermally Neutral, Warm and Hot Conditions

摘要

Four hypotheses on thermophysiological responses were proposed for a non-exercise person when relative humidity (Rh) changes in thermally neutral, warm and hot conditions. Under thermally neutral and warm conditions, the first hypothesis is a decrease in skin temperature (T_(sk)) due to increase in evaporation rate (E_(sk)) upon increase in Rh, and the second hypothesis was a decrease, an increase or no change in T_(sk) dependent on change in E_(sk) upon decrease in Rh. Under hot conditions, the third hypothesis is an increase in T_(sk) upon increase in the Rh and decrease upon decrease in the Rh due to change in E_(sk), and then the forth hypothesis is an increase in T_(sk) due to increase in the peripheral blood flow rate upon increase in the Rh. To test these hypotheses, a series of human experiments were carried out. It was then confirmed that the results partly agreed and supported the hypotheses.