Effects of Temperature and Humidity

Ambient Temperature

Temperature is an expression of hot and cold. Temperature is uniform, i.e. warmer bodies give the heat away to the colder, until the temperature is equal everywhere. The human body also gives away or receives heat in the environment. At the same time, it is important that the internal temperature of the body is constant, which is why the air temperature has a significant impact on our sense of self and health.

If the air temperature is too high, the human skin secretes sweat, which, when evaporated, takes energy from the skin, and thereby cools it. This system works very well, but not indefinitely. Sweat evaporation can also be prevented by high humidity or sweat-not-passing clothing.

Prolonged exposure to high air temperatures can lead to heat exhaustion, heat cramps or heat stroke.

Symptoms include goose pumps, heavy sweating, faintness, dizziness, fatigue, weak but rapid pulse, muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting and headache.

When the air temperature is too low, the human body also tries to compensate for this by creating tremors that heat the muscles by burning carbohydrates. By any kind of movement, the body produces more heat, so it is good to do physical work in the cold, but you usually feel very tired in the heat.

If the body loses heat faster than it can restore it, hypothermia may occur. When body temperature drops below 95°F (35°C), the heart, nervous system and organs are no longer able to function normally, eventually causing death.

Symptoms include shivering, mumbling, weak pulse, slow breathing, lack of coordination, very low energy, memory loss, confusion.

Relative Humidity

Relative humidity is an expression of how much water is dissolved in the air. At a lower temperature, less water can be dissolved in the air than at higher temperature.

If the air temperature is too high, the human skin secretes sweat, which, when evaporated, takes energy from the skin, and thereby cools it. When humidity is high, sweat can no longer evaporate from the surface of the skin, and natural cooling no longer works. This can be a health risk, even if the air temperature is not very high.

Extended exposure to high relative humidity, especially together with high temperature, can cause dehydration, fatigue, muscle cramps, heat exhaustion, fainting or heat stroke.

In case of low relative humidity, the air is dry. This is a very common problem in homes during the winter heating season. Sometimes this can also be caused using air conditioning in summer. The human body consists of 70% water and dry air removes this water faster than moist air.

Low humidity causes dryness and irritation of the eyes, skin peeling and itching, chapped lips. It dries out the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose and trachea when inhaled, causing irritation, swelling, and greatly increasing the risk of colds, influenza, and other infections. Dry and broken skin is also more susceptible to viruses. A dry nose promotes nosebleeds.

Low humidity also improves the transmission of many viruses in the air, including COVID-19. Sneeze droplets dry out quickly, and virtually weightless viruses remain floating in the air indefinitely. Low humidity also increases the overall lifespan of the virus.

Meet airSniffler

airSniffler monitor measures both temperature and relative humidity and the app gives colour coded insights that can be helpful.

You can quickly check current air temperature or look at the charts to see how relative humidity has changed overnight for example.