Final answer:
Working in 180 degree dry heat significantly stresses the body, causing it to sweat more as a cooling response. Adequate fluid intake is essential to prevent dehydration, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke. Extended exposure to such conditions can be life-threatening as it can impair metabolic functions and enzyme activity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Working in temperatures of 180 degree dry heat for long periods can cause significant stress on the body. When our bodies become too warm, they respond by sweating and increasing blood circulation to the surface to transfer thermal energy away from the core. As sweat evaporates, it cools the body by removing some thermal energy. However, to produce sweat, the body requires adequate water from extracellular fluids, so maintaining adequate fluid intake is vital. If exposed to such extreme heat, especially in a dry environment where sweat can evaporate more readily, it's crucial to replenish lost fluids to prevent dehydration.
Furthermore, extreme and prolonged exposure to high temperatures can overwhelm the body's cooling mechanisms. This may result in heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke, conditions that can disrupt normal metabolic functions. In severe cases, where body temperature rises well above the norm, enzyme structures can change, impairing their function and preventing metabolism from proceeding normally, potentially leading to serious health consequences or even death.
The body's use of water's high heat of vaporization at 100°C (540 cal/gram) is another cooling mechanism through sweating, as a large amount of body heat can be lost with only a small amount of water vaporized.