Relationship between physiological strain index and wet bulb globe temperature index in women in the climate chamber

Heat stress risk assessment, as a harmful agent at workplace, is essential for controlling heat strain and heat stress effectively. This study is concerned with the Relationship between Physiological Strain Index (PSI) and Wet Bulb Globe Temperature Index (WBGT) in Women in the Climate Chamber. This experimental study was carried out on 36 healthy females in sitting state under thermal conditions (22 - 32 C) in environmental chamber for 2 hour. In order to calculate physiological strain index (PSI), oral temperature and heart rate were measured every 5 minutes. The data were analyzed using correlation and regression. The average heart rate and oral temperature, during the heat exposure 87.91 bpm, 36.89 C, respectively. The min and max Index WBGT, 25.49 C and 32.1 C respectively, and the min and max heart rate 83.01 and 90.97 bpm, and the min and max oral temperature 36.7 C, 37.01 C, respectively. Also, the results have revealed a direct and significant correlation among WBGT with PSI (r = 0.71, P< 0.001), oral temperature (r = 0.98, P< 0.001) and heart rate (r = 0.77, P< 0.001) indices. The results showed that the WBGT index with physiological variables, heart rate, oral temperature and PSI index thermal range (22 - 38 C) and 40% relative humidity (RH) had direct and significant correlation in women with Islamic clothing. Also simultaneous with WBGT increases heart rate, oral temperature and PSI index increased.