Physiological Method of Evaluating Protective Clothing for Work in a Cold Environment

The purpose of this study was to determine the usefulness of physiological studies in the evaluation of protective clothing for work in a cold environment. The study included the examination of the dynamics of changes in chosen physiological parameters (core and skin temperatures, heart rate, pulmonary minute ventilation) as well as physical ones (the temperature and relative humidity under the clothes) during work in protective clothing with unknown thermal insulation. The experiment was conducted in extreme environmental conditions (–10 and –15°C) at a work load defined by the clothing manufacturer as moderate. Results show that thermal equilibrium was achieved and maintained throughout the investigated work time (60 min) and that the protective clothing ensures safety on the time scale of a regular 8-hour work day. It was also shown that the dynamics of thermal stress physiological parameters can be used to determine the maximum duration of exposure for cold protective clothing with unknown thermal insulation.     

Body Heat Balance of a Man with Deficient Sweat Rate Subjected to Physical Work in a Hot Environment

The dynamics of physiological stress and thermal balance were investigated in men subjected to endogenous and exogenous heat loads. The study was conducted using the thermometric method. Substantial differences in the dynamics of the tested parameters and their quantitative characteristics were observed in 1 out of 8 participants. In this article, the observed differences are rationalized in terms of the deficient sweat rate mechanism. It is pointed out that it is indispensable to address these cases in work safety regulations.     

Optimized thermochemical detoxification of asbestos-containing waste using chemical additives and microwave heat treatment

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Owing to the increasing ACW generation, asbestos detoxification and recycling technologies are required for environmental and economic reasons....