Effects of Hygroscopically Treated Polyester Blouses on Sweating Rates of Sedentary Women at 33°C

We studied the physiological effects of fiber moisture and water absorbancy on sweating rates in sedentary women during 60 minutes of warm exposure of 33°C. The sweating rates decreased significantly in the subjects wearing the polyester blouses treated hygroscopically, compared with those subjects wearing polyester blouses without hygroscopic treatment. We discuss the reason for such different sweating responses to garments with or without hygroscopic properties from the viewpoint of thermal physiology.