Author(s)

Joseph Maté¹, Rodney Siegel², Jacques Oosthuizen^1*, Paul B. Laursen^2,3, Greig Watson⁴

¹School of Exercise and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia.
²High Performance Sport New Zealand, Auckland, New Zealand.
³Sport Performance Research Institute New Zealand (SPRINZ), Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.
⁴Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Human Life Sciences, University of Tasmania, Tasmania, Australia.

Miners in Australia frequently perform physically demanding work under high ambient temperatures and humidity, often whilst wearing personal protective equipment, leading to heat-related illnesses. This study investigated effects of replacing 100% and 50% sweat losses with 5% carbohydrate liquid or ice-slurry solution on core temperature during simulated mining conditions. Five randomized treadmill trials were performed with: no fluid replacement (NF), 100% (100 ICE) and 50% (50 ICE) sweat loss replaced with ice-slurry (~-1°C) solution and 100% (100 LIQ) and 50% (50 LIQ) sweat loss replaced with liquid (~+4°C) solution. Time to exhaustion was longer in 100 ICE followed by 100 LIQ, 50 ICE, 50 LIQ and NF. Change in rectal temperature was least in 100 ICE followed by 100 LIQ, 50 ICE, 50 LIQ and NF. Ingestion of ice-slurry resulted in longer time to exhaustion and slower rates of change in rectal temperature. It is recommended that ice-slurry drinks be provided to personnel to lower heat strain during hot working conditions.

Thermoregulation, Occupational Heat Stress, Cooling Intervention, Ice Slurry

Maté, J. , Siegel, R. , Oosthuizen, J. , Laursen, P. and Watson, G. (2016) Effect of Liquid versus Ice Slurry Ingestion on Core Temperature during Simulated Mining Conditions. Open Journal of Preventive Medicine, 6, 21-30. doi: 10.4236/ojpm.2016.61002.