Sweat and heat production related to air humidity during exercise and inactive recovery - a laboratory study

Certain occupational groups are exposed to unfavourable work conditions, such as exposure to warm and humid environments and alternations between high and low work intensity. Such conditions affect thermoregulatory responses as well as thermal sensation and comfort. Exercise and work capacity at moderate intensity in a warm environment are progressively impaired as relative humidity (rh) increases [1]. However, the influence of relative humidity on regional sweat rate (RSR) during high-intensity work followed by a recovery period has not been studied. This study examines the relationship between rh and RSR during inactive recovery after a period of high work intensity.