O-369 THE EFFECTS OF CONSTANT AMBIENT TEMPERATURE ON ALERTNESS: POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF DYNAMIC CONDITIONS IN OFFICES

Occupational Medicine, vol. 74, pp. 0

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Studies support the association of core body temperature with the circadian rhythm and cognitive performance aspects, including alertness. Additionally, evidence shows that lower ambient temperatures improve cognitive performance. However, less is known on the dynamic effect of ambient temperature on alertness, which could also follow the circadian rhythm. This study aimed to investigate changes in alertness throughout the day under two different thermal conditions. Methods Participants (NTotal=31, NFemale=16, NMale=15, Average age: 40.7 years) attended a two-day hybrid (laboratory and field) study, which included a cross-over design exposure to two different thermal conditions (cool condition: 21 °C, warm condition: 28 °C) for 8 hours in a simulated office environment. They were asked to answer questions on how alert they were feeling at regular intervals throughout the day, also in their home environment. Ambient temperature was monitored continuously with the use of a non-commercial, tailor-made sensor. Results The results indicate an interaction effect of condition-by-time on the levels of reported alertness (F(15, 21)=6.245, p =.01). Participants reported being more alert in the morning, when they were exposed to the warm condition, compared to the cool condition. However, a sudden reduction in alertness level was observed in the afternoon when they were exposed to the warm condition, compared to the cool condition, in which participants showed increases in alertness. Discussion These outcomes suggest that constant temperatures in offices might not be ideal for enhanced alertness. Conclusion It is suggested that offices might benefit from dynamic temperature exposures that go against the circadian rhythm of body temperature.

Authors 8

1. Rania Christoforou Aachen Medical Faculty Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine Healthy Living Spaces Lab

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Healthy Living Spaces lab, Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University , Germany

2. Hannah Pallubinsky Aachen Medical Faculty Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine Healthy Living Spaces Lab

   RWTH Aachen University · Maastricht University

   Affiliation as printed

   Healthy Living Spaces lab, Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University & Department of Nutrition and Movement Sciences, School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), Maastricht University , Maastricht, The Netherlands Germany

3. Tobias Maria Aachen E.ON Energy Research Center Burgholz Institute for Energy Efficient Buildings and Indoor Climate

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Burgholz Institute for Energy Efficient Buildings and Indoor Climate, E.ON Energy Research Center, RWTH Aachen University & Heinz Trox Wissenschafts gGmbH , Germany

4. Kai Rewitz Aachen E.ON Energy Research Center Institute for Energy Efficient Buildings and Indoor Climate

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Energy Efficient Buildings and Indoor Climate, E.ON Energy Research Center, RWTH Aachen University , Germany

5. Mahmoud El-Mokadem Aachen E.ON Energy Research Center Institute for Energy Efficient Buildings and Indoor Climate

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Energy Efficient Buildings and Indoor Climate, E.ON Energy Research Center, RWTH Aachen University Germany

6. Janine Bardey Aachen Medical Faculty Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine Healthy Living Spaces Lab

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Healthy Living Spaces lab, Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University & Heinz Trox Wissenschafts gGmbH , Germany

7. Dirk Müller Aachen E.ON Energy Research Center Institute for Energy Efficient Buildings and Indoor Climate

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Energy Efficient Buildings and Indoor Climate, E.ON Energy Research Center, RWTH Aachen University & Heinz Trox Wissenschafts gGmbH , Germany

8. Marcel Schweiker Aachen Medical Faculty Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine Healthy Living Spaces Lab

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Healthy Living Spaces lab, Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University , Germany