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The Temperature Response of Skin Exposed to Penetrating and Non-Penetrating Radiation

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Thomas P. Davis · 1959

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A 1959 study measured the temperature response of pig skin to non-penetrating and penetrating radiation, finding predictions good for non-penetrating radiation but not yet possible for penetrating radiation.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

This 1959 research examined how skin responds to different types of radiation - comparing penetrating radiation that is absorbed in depth versus non-penetrating radiation that is absorbed or reflected at the surface. Experiments were performed on young, anesthetized Chester White pigs exposed to radiation from a carbon-arc image furnace, with temperatures measured by thermocouples. For non-penetrating radiation, predicted and measured temperature responses of skin were in good agreement, while for penetrating radiation accurate prediction was not yet possible.

Why This Matters

This 1959 thermal research was concerned with the radiant energy burn. The temperature response of skin to a specified exposure matters because that information is necessary for studying the kinetics of thermal injury. For non-penetrating radiation, the average thermal constants of pig skin were found to be thermal inertia 11.7 x 10^4 cal cm^-2 deg^-1 sec^-1 and thermal diffusivity 8.4 x 10^-5 cm^2 sec^-1, so reasonably reliable temperature data are available for the study of thermal injury to opaque skin. For penetrating radiation, the direct heating of thermoelements by the radiation caused serious errors in measurements, and the author notes that much remains to be done on temperature measurement in scattering diathermanous materials and on radiant energy absorption within such media.

Figures from the Original Paper

Diagrams extracted from the original research document.

graphPage 1 - Figure 1 illustrates the relative temperature rise over time for a semi-infinite opaque solid under absorbed irradiance pulse conditions.
p. 1 of the original PDF
chartPage 2 - Figure 3 illustrates the predicted temperature-rise per-unit absorbed irradiance for white pig skin exposed to a step function pulse from a carbon arc image furnace.
p. 2 of the original PDF
graphPage 3 - Figure 1 illustrates the apparent effect of time on exposure to the kpc product of anesthetized rat skin.
p. 3 of the original PDF

Study Details

To determine the temperature response of skin exposed to penetrating and non-penetrating radiation and to evaluate the thermal constants of skin tissue.

Experiments were performed on young, anesthetized Chester White pigs exposed to radiation from a car...

For non-penetrating radiation, the average thermal constants of pig skin were found to be: Thermal i...

For non-penetrating radiation heating, predicted and measured temperature responses of skin are in good agreement, and the thermal constants of this tissue are known. It follows that reasonably reliable temperature data are available for the study of the kinetics of thermal injury to opaque skin. For penetrating radiation heating, accurate prediction of temperature response in skin is not yet possible. Much remains to be done on problems of temperature measurements in scattering diathermanous materials and investigation of radiant energy absorption within such media.

Cite This Study
Thomas P. Davis (1959). The Temperature Response of Skin Exposed to Penetrating and Non-Penetrating Radiation.
Show BibTeX
@article{the_temperature_response_of_skin_exposed_to_penetrating_and_non_penetrating_radi_g3939,
  author = {Thomas P. Davis},
  title = {The Temperature Response of Skin Exposed to Penetrating and Non-Penetrating Radiation},
  year = {1959},
  
  
}
No DOI on file for this study.

Quick Questions About This Study

Penetrating radiation is absorbed in depth within the skin, while for non-penetrating radiation it is assumed that the radiation is either reflected or absorbed at the surface. In the experiments, non-penetrating exposure was achieved by making the skin opaque with India ink, and penetrating exposure by omitting the coating.
The temperature response of skin to a specified exposure is a problem of considerable importance in the investigation of the radiant energy burn. Such information is necessary for the study of the kinetics of thermal injury.
For non-penetrating radiation, the average thermal constants of pig skin were thermal inertia 11.7 x 10^4 cal cm^-2 deg^-1 sec^-1 and thermal diffusivity 8.4 x 10^-5 cm^2 sec^-1. For rat skin, the kpc product (thermal conductivity times density times specific heat) was computed to be 10.6 x 10^-4 cgs units for exposures less than 10 seconds, increasing to 15 x 10^-4 for 24 seconds.
Experiments were performed on young, anesthetized Chester White pigs exposed to radiation from a carbon-arc image furnace. Skin was made opaque by painting with India ink, and temperatures were measured with 50 micrometer diameter silver-palladium thermocouples.
For non-penetrating radiation heating, predicted and measured temperature responses of skin were in good agreement. For penetrating radiation heating, accurate prediction of temperature response in skin is not yet possible.