Assessment of Effects of Concomitant Exposure to Sound, Heat, and Physical Workload Changes on Physiological Parameters in Five Different Combination Modes, a Controlled Laboratory Study

Abstract

Exposure to sound, heat, and increased physical workload can change physiological parameters. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of concomitant exposure to sound, heat, and physical workload changes on physiological parameters in controlled laboratory conditions. This experimental crosssectional study was conducted in 35 male university students with a mean age of 25.75 years and a mean BMI of 22.69 kg/m. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were measured after 15 min rest in the laboratory, 5 and 10 min after starting the experiment, and then after 20 min in controlled laboratory conditions in five combination modes. The combination modes were (Sound: 65 dB, WBGT: 22°C, Speed: 1.7, Slope: 10%), (Sound: 65 dB, WBGT: 22°C, Speed: 3.4, Slope: 14%), (Sound: 95 dB, WBGT: 22°C, Speed: 1.7, Slope: 10%), (Sound: 65 dB, WBGT: 32°C, Speed: 1.7, Slope: 10%), and (Sound: 95 dB, WBGT: 32°C, Speed: 3.4, Slope: 14%). Mixed model analysis and paired t-test were applied for analysis. The results showed that the mean physiological parameters (Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate) increased when different combination modes worsened (Sound from 65 to 95 dB, WBGT from 22°C to 32°C, speed from 1.7 to 3.4, and slope from 10% to 14%, and when sound: 95 dB, WBGT: 32°C, Speed: 3.4, and Slope: 14%). Moreover, the mean changes of systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significant in all conditions when compared with the reference condition (Sound: 65 dB, WBGT: 22°C, Speed: 1.7, and Slope: 10%). The mean heart rate changes were also significant except for exposure to the second condition (Sound: 65 dB, WBGT: 22°C, Speed: 3.4, Slope: 14%) and the third condition (Sound: 95 dB, WBGT: 22°C, Speed: 1.7, Slope: 10%). Exposure to hazardous levels of sound, heat, and workload has adverse effects on physiological parameters. Concomitant exposure to all three hazards has a synergistic effect and increases the adverse effect.