SUMMER in the southern US can be long and very hot, but you should resist the temptation to go barefoot, warn medical researchers from Arizona. Hot asphalt can cause second degree burns to a bare foot within seconds.
The scientists measured the temperature of an asphalt pavement every hour on a summer鈥檚 day in 1992. Although air temperatures that day peaked at about 40 掳C, the sun-drenched asphalt reached 68 掳C. Human skin burns at 44 掳C.
鈥淎t its peak temperature, the pavement was hot enough to cause second-degree burns in 2 seconds,鈥� say the researchers at Maricopa Medical Center. Given longer exposure, asphalt could burn skin at any time from 9 am to 7 pm, they report in the latest issue of Annals of Emergency Medicine. 鈥淣o one should be allowed to remain in contact with hot pavement even transiently,鈥� they say.
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