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Cited by 920Thermoregulation and physiological responsesBuilding Energy and Comfort OptimizationEffects of Environmental Stressors on Livestock

Thermal Comfort and the Heat Stress Indices

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EPSTEIN, Yoram, MORAN, Daniel S.·2006·Industrial Health
DOI 10.2486/indhealth.44.388
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Abstract

Thermal stress is an important factor in many industrial situations, athletic events and military scenarios. It can seriously affect the productivity and the health of the individual and diminish tolerance to other environmental hazards. However, the assessment of the thermal stress and the translation of the stress in terms of physiological and psychological strain is complex. For over a century attempts have been made to construct an index, which will describe heat stress satisfactorily. The many indices that have been suggested can be categorized into one of three groups: "rational indices", "empirical indices", or "direct indices". The first 2 groups are sophisticated indices, which integrate environmental and physiological variables; they are difficult to calculate and are not feasible for daily use. The latter group comprises of simple indices, which are based on the measurement of basic environmental variables. In this group 2 indices are in use for over four decades: the "wet-bulb globe temperature" (WBGT) index and the "discomfort index" (DI). The following review summarizes the current knowledge on thermal indices and their correlates to thermal sensation and comfort. With the present knowledge it is suggested to adopt the DI as a universal heat stress index.

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Crossref · 10.2486/indhealth.44.388

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52 of 52 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • DI correlates well with WBGT (R2 = 0.95 in the range of 15-33 °C of WBGT index, n = 108).

    “Nevertheless, the authors found that DI correlates well with WBGT (R2 = 0.95 in the range of 15–33 °C of WBGT index, n = 108).”

    From Occupational heat stress assessment and protective strategies in the context of climate change (2018) · cites this paper as Epstein and Moran 2006

    The discomfort-index section reports that DI and WBGT were highly correlated (r² = 0.9466), and the Summary identifies 108 observations for their correlation. Our copy does not specify that the WBGT values ranged from 15 to 33 °C, so that qualifier is unsupported. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • Appropriate assessment of occupational heat stress requires consideration of six factors: four thermal climate factors, metabolic heat production, and clothing properties.

    “Any comprehensive thermal stress index will need to consider all the six factors outlined for appropriate assessment of occupational heat stress (Parsons 2014; Epstein and Moran 2006).”

    From Occupational heat stress assessment and protective strategies in the context of climate change (2018) · cites this paper as Epstein and Moran 2006

  • Local workplace environmental conditions such as local heat sources, metabolic heat production within the human body, and clothing properties all affect the exchange of heat between the body and the environment.

    “In addition, local workplace environmental conditions such as local heat sources, metabolic heat production within the human body, and clothing properties, all affect the exchange of heat between the body and the environment.”

    From Occupational heat stress assessment and protective strategies in the context of climate change (2018) · cites this paper as Epstein and Moran 2006

  • The WBGT index can function as a screening tool for the assessment of heat stress.

    “The WBGT index can function as a screening tool for the assessment of heat stress (Parsons 2013; Epstein and Moran 2006).”

    From Occupational heat stress assessment and protective strategies in the context of climate change (2018) · cites this paper as Epstein and Moran 2006

  • An applicable heat stress index must meet four criteria: feasible and accurate at relevant range of environmental and metabolic conditions; considers all six factors; measurement should reflect worker's exposure; exposure limits should be reflected by physiological and/or psychological responses.

    “Epstein and Moran (2006) emphasized that an applicable heat stress index must meet the following criteria: 1) feasible and accurate at relevant range of environmental and metabolic conditions, 2) considers all six factors, 3) the measurement should reflect worker’s exposure, 4) exposure limits should be reflected by physiological and/or psychological responses.”

    From Occupational heat stress assessment and protective strategies in the context of climate change (2018) · cites this paper as Epstein and Moran 2006

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Research works printed but not linked: 11

  1. [9]9. Fanger PO (1970) Thermal comfort, Danish Technical Press, Copenhgen.
  2. [10]10. Goldman RF (2001) Introduction to heat-related problems in military operations. In: Textbook of military medicine: medical aspects of harsh environments Vol. 1, Pandolf KB, Burr RE (Eds.), 3-49, Office of the Surgeon General, Department of the Army, Washington DC. 11)
  3. [15]15. Goldman RF (1988) Standards for human exposure to heat. In: Environmental ergonomics, Mekjavic IB, Banister EW, Morrison JB (Eds.), 99-138, Taylor & Francis, Philadelphia.
  4. [20]20. Belding HS (1970) The search for a universal heat stress index. In: Physiological and behavioral temperature regulation, Hardy JD, Gagge AP, Stolwijk JAJ (Eds.), 193- 202, Charles C Thomas, Springfield. 21
  5. [29]29. US Department of Labor (1999) OSHA Technical manual (OTM) (TED 01-00-015), section III chapter 4: heat stress, US Department of Labor, Washington DC.
  6. [32]32. Department of the Army (1980) Prevention, treatment, and control of heat injury, 1-21, Technical Bulletin No TB Med 507, Department of the Army, Washington DC.
  7. [40]40. Sohar E (1979) Man in the desert. In: Arid zone settlement planning-the Israeli experience, Golani G (Ed.), 477-518, Pergamon Press, New York.
  8. [42]42. Epstein Y, Moran DS (2004) Extremes of temperature and hydration. In: Travel Medicine, Keystone JS, Kozarsky PE, Freedman DO, Nothdurft HD, Conner BA (Eds.), 383-92, Mosbey, Edinburgh.
  9. [58]58. Givoni B (1962) The influence of work and environmental conditions on the physiological responses and thermal equilibrium of man. In: Proceedings of UNESCO Symposium on Environmental Physiology and Psychology in Arid Conditions, 199-204, Lucknow.
  10. [67]67. Kerslake DM (1972) The stress of hot environment. Cambridge University Press, Cmbridge.
  11. [76]76. Frank A, Moran D, Epstein Y, Belokopytov M, Shapiro Y (1996) The estimation of heat tolerance by a new cumulative heat strain index. In: Environmental Ergonomics: Recent progress and new frontiers, Shapiro Y, Moran D, Epstein Y (Eds.), 194-7, Freund Pub House, London.

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Authors
EPSTEIN, Y., & MORAN, D. S.
Affiliations
Tel Aviv University (IL)
ORCID
Venue
Industrial Health
Publisher
National Institute of Industrial Health
Published
2006
Volume
44
Issue
3
Pages
388-398
ISSN
  • 0019-8366 (ISSN-L)
  • 1880-8026
DOI
10.2486/indhealth.44.388
OpenAlex
W2058120680
Cited by
920
References
52
Citations by year
2026: 59 · 2025: 74 · 2024: 62 · 2023: 78 · 2022: 84 · 2021: 75 · 2020: 71 · 2019: 64 · 2018: 70 · 2017: 55 · 2016: 54 · 2015: 37 · 2014: 43 · 2013: 42 · 2012: 19
FWCI
1.33
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Industrial Health (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Thermoregulation and physiological responses
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Building and Construction › Building Energy and Comfort Optimization
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Effects of Environmental Stressors on Livestock
Keywords
heat stress, thermal comfort, heat stress indices, wet bulb globe temperature, discomfort index, thermal sensation, occupational heat exposure
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Physiological, Humans, Israel, Temperature, Risk Assessment, Heat Stress Disorders

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