PPE can increase what?

• A. Hydration
• B. Heat stress
• C. Pesticide drift
• D. Thermal fatigue

Answer: (B)

Wearing PPE can raise heat stress because protective gear acts as insulation and traps heat and moisture against the body. Non-breathable suits, gloves, and respirators reduce how efficiently your body can dissipate heat through sweating and convection, so core temperature and heart rate can climb during work in warm or humid environments. The direct consequence is heat-related strain, which is the main risk PPE introduces in these settings.

Hydration isn’t increased by PPE; in practice the sweating that PPE can provoke may raise the risk of dehydration, not improve hydration. Pesticide drift is about how spray moves through the air, not how the body reacts to PPE. Thermal fatigue isn’t a standard term on its own here, whereas heat stress directly captures the physiological strain from wearing protective gear in heat.