Long-term effect of hand-arm vibration on thermotactile perception thresholds
Abstract Background Occupational exposure to hand-transmitted vibration (HTV) is known to cause neurological symptoms such as numbness, reduced manual dexterity, grip strength and sensory perception. The purpose of this longitudinal study was to compare thermotactile perception thresholds for cold (...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12995-018-0201-1 |
| _version_ | 1811263073687699456 |
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| author | Ronnie Lundström Adnan Noor Baloch Mats Hagberg Tohr Nilsson Lars Gerhardsson |
| author_facet | Ronnie Lundström Adnan Noor Baloch Mats Hagberg Tohr Nilsson Lars Gerhardsson |
| author_sort | Ronnie Lundström |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Occupational exposure to hand-transmitted vibration (HTV) is known to cause neurological symptoms such as numbness, reduced manual dexterity, grip strength and sensory perception. The purpose of this longitudinal study was to compare thermotactile perception thresholds for cold (TPTC) and warmth (TPTW) among vibration exposed manual workers and unexposed white collar workers during a follow-up period of 16 years to elucidate if long-term vibration exposure is related to a change in TPT over time. Methods The study group consisted of male workers at a production workshop at which some of them were exposed to HTV. They were investigated in 1992 and followed-up in 2008. All participants were physically examined and performed TPT bilaterally at the middle and distal phalanges of the second finger. Two different vibration exposure dosages were calculated for each individual, i.e. the individual cumulative lifetime dose (mh/s2) or a lifetime 8-h equivalent daily exposure (m/s2). Results A significant mean threshold difference was found for all subjects of about 4–5 °C and 1–2 °C in TPTW and TPTC, respectively, between follow-up and baseline. No significant mean difference in TPTC between vibration exposed and non-exposed workers at each occasion could be stated to exist. For TPTW a small but significant difference was found for the right index finger only. Age was strongly related to thermotactile perception threshold. The 8-h equivalent exposure level (A (8)) dropped from about 1.3 m/s2 in 1992 to about 0.7 m/s2 in 2008. Conclusions A lifetime 8-h equivalent daily exposure to hand-transmitted vibration less than 1.3 m/s2 does not have a significant effect on thermotactile perception. Age, however, has a significant impact on the change of temperature perception thresholds why this covariate has to be considered when using TPT as a tool for health screening. |
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0acab48753334b9a80e67660443feb27 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1745-6673 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T19:39:24Z |
| publishDate | 2018-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology |
| spelling | doaj.art-0acab48753334b9a80e67660443feb272022-12-22T03:19:08ZengBMCJournal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology1745-66732018-06-011311810.1186/s12995-018-0201-1Long-term effect of hand-arm vibration on thermotactile perception thresholdsRonnie Lundström0Adnan Noor Baloch1Mats Hagberg2Tohr Nilsson3Lars Gerhardsson4Department of Radiation Sciences, Umeå UniversityDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Gothenburg and Sahlgrenska University HospitalDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Gothenburg and Sahlgrenska University HospitalDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Umeå UniversityDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Gothenburg and Sahlgrenska University HospitalAbstract Background Occupational exposure to hand-transmitted vibration (HTV) is known to cause neurological symptoms such as numbness, reduced manual dexterity, grip strength and sensory perception. The purpose of this longitudinal study was to compare thermotactile perception thresholds for cold (TPTC) and warmth (TPTW) among vibration exposed manual workers and unexposed white collar workers during a follow-up period of 16 years to elucidate if long-term vibration exposure is related to a change in TPT over time. Methods The study group consisted of male workers at a production workshop at which some of them were exposed to HTV. They were investigated in 1992 and followed-up in 2008. All participants were physically examined and performed TPT bilaterally at the middle and distal phalanges of the second finger. Two different vibration exposure dosages were calculated for each individual, i.e. the individual cumulative lifetime dose (mh/s2) or a lifetime 8-h equivalent daily exposure (m/s2). Results A significant mean threshold difference was found for all subjects of about 4–5 °C and 1–2 °C in TPTW and TPTC, respectively, between follow-up and baseline. No significant mean difference in TPTC between vibration exposed and non-exposed workers at each occasion could be stated to exist. For TPTW a small but significant difference was found for the right index finger only. Age was strongly related to thermotactile perception threshold. The 8-h equivalent exposure level (A (8)) dropped from about 1.3 m/s2 in 1992 to about 0.7 m/s2 in 2008. Conclusions A lifetime 8-h equivalent daily exposure to hand-transmitted vibration less than 1.3 m/s2 does not have a significant effect on thermotactile perception. Age, however, has a significant impact on the change of temperature perception thresholds why this covariate has to be considered when using TPT as a tool for health screening.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12995-018-0201-1Hand-arm vibrationHand-transmitted vibrationHandThermotactile perception |
| spellingShingle | Ronnie Lundström Adnan Noor Baloch Mats Hagberg Tohr Nilsson Lars Gerhardsson Long-term effect of hand-arm vibration on thermotactile perception thresholds Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology Hand-arm vibration Hand-transmitted vibration Hand Thermotactile perception |
| title | Long-term effect of hand-arm vibration on thermotactile perception thresholds |
| title_full | Long-term effect of hand-arm vibration on thermotactile perception thresholds |
| title_fullStr | Long-term effect of hand-arm vibration on thermotactile perception thresholds |
| title_full_unstemmed | Long-term effect of hand-arm vibration on thermotactile perception thresholds |
| title_short | Long-term effect of hand-arm vibration on thermotactile perception thresholds |
| title_sort | long term effect of hand arm vibration on thermotactile perception thresholds |
| topic | Hand-arm vibration Hand-transmitted vibration Hand Thermotactile perception |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12995-018-0201-1 |
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