Evaluating Heat Risk: Comparing On-Site WBGT Measurements Versus Smartphone Application Estimates

Abstract

Exertional heat illness poses a significant risk for workers, athletes, and military personnel participating in outdoor activities during hot weather. An important component of heat safety is to monitor environmental conditions through heat stress indices like the wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) and adjust activity as conditions get progressively hotter. Traditionally, on-site (OS) WBGT measurement devices are used, but phone applications (PAs) offering WBGT estimates have emerged as a potential alternative. However, there is little information on how closely PA-derived WBGTs match OS measurements to guide decision-making. This study compared the PA-derived Zelus WBGT estimates with OS measurements from Kestrel 5400 devices and their impact on activity modification categorization. A 2-month observational study collected 1,056 paired (OS and PA) WBGT measurements from 26 high schools across 11 states in the United States and over diverse surfaces (artificial turf 53%, natural grass 44%, others 3%). WBGT values were categorized using regional activity modification thresholds to account for local acclimatization. Our findings indicated that while exhibiting high correlation (r = 0.89), PA WBGTs were on average about 1°C cooler, with differences of 2–3°C at higher WBGTs. Findings were similar for both grass and artificial turf surfaces. Further, significant discrepancies were observed in WBGT-based activity modification categories, with the PA more frequently indicating lower modification categories compared to OS devices, especially in hotter conditions. In light of these findings, the PA requires further validation prior to its adoption as a replacement for OS measurements.