title: WBGT index revisited after 60 years of use.
abstract: The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) seems to be still used world widely for the evaluation of heat stress conditions and it is recommended by ISO and American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists as a screening method. Unfortunately, many occupational health practitioners and users appear to be unaware of its limitations. As the ISO 7243 Standard, based on WBGT, is presently under revision, it is an appropriate time to review the validity and applicability of this empirical approach to evaluate heat stress. This article underlines the main issues about the WBGT index from a rational perspective.
authors: 1.Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale, Università di Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Fisciano (Salerno), Italy.
authors: Francesca R
authors: FR
authors: d'Ambrosio Alfano
authors: 2.Unité Hygiene et Physiologie du Travail, Université Catholique de Louvain, 75 Rue Rosier Bois, 1331 Rosières, Belgique.
authors: Jacques
authors: J
authors: Malchaire
authors: 3.Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, P.le Vincenzo Tecchio 80, 80125 Naples, Italy palella@unina.it.
authors: Boris Igor
authors: BI
authors: Palella
authors: 3.Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, P.le Vincenzo Tecchio 80, 80125 Naples, Italy.
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Riccio
mesh_terms: D002138:Calibration; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000592:standards; D018882:Heat Stress Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D007390:International Agencies; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control; D016272:Occupational Health; D012015:Reference Standards; D013696:Temperature
keywords: WBGT; clothing adjustment factors; globe temperature; heat stress; physical agents risk assessment