Neurosensory and vascular symptoms and clinical findings in the hands of Arctic open-pit miners in Sweden and Norway – a descriptive study
ABSTRACTThis cross-sectional study aimed to describe exposure to cold climate and hand-arm vibration (HAV) as well as neurosensory and vascular symptoms and clinical findings among open-pit Arctic miners. It was based on data from questionnaires and physical examinations, including 177 men and 75 wo...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2023-12-01
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Series: | International Journal of Circumpolar Health |
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Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22423982.2023.2254916 |
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author | Albin Stjernbrandt Magnar Johnsen Ingrid Liljelind Anna Aminoff Jens Wahlström Anje Christina Höper Hans Pettersson Tohr Nilsson |
author_facet | Albin Stjernbrandt Magnar Johnsen Ingrid Liljelind Anna Aminoff Jens Wahlström Anje Christina Höper Hans Pettersson Tohr Nilsson |
author_sort | Albin Stjernbrandt |
collection | DOAJ |
description | ABSTRACTThis cross-sectional study aimed to describe exposure to cold climate and hand-arm vibration (HAV) as well as neurosensory and vascular symptoms and clinical findings among open-pit Arctic miners. It was based on data from questionnaires and physical examinations, including 177 men and 75 women from two open-pit mines in Sweden and Norway (response rate 54%). Working outdoors or in an unheated building or machine for at least two hours per day was reported by 44% and HAV exposure of the same duration by 10%. Neurosensory symptoms (e.g. reduced perception of touch) in the hands were reported by 47% and Raynaud’s phenomenon by 14%. In brief conclusion, the study showed that Arctic miners were commonly exposed to both cold temperatures and HAV. They also reported a broad range of neurosensory and vascular symptoms in their hands and had abnormal clinical findings related to the symptoms. The results emphasise the need for additional preventive measures in this occupational setting. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-08T21:56:25Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-da0813e229554264aab4cf4cbdfaa845 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2242-3982 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-08T21:56:25Z |
publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
record_format | Article |
series | International Journal of Circumpolar Health |
spelling | doaj.art-da0813e229554264aab4cf4cbdfaa8452023-12-19T21:44:11ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Circumpolar Health2242-39822023-12-0182110.1080/22423982.2023.2254916Neurosensory and vascular symptoms and clinical findings in the hands of Arctic open-pit miners in Sweden and Norway – a descriptive studyAlbin Stjernbrandt0Magnar Johnsen1Ingrid Liljelind2Anna Aminoff3Jens Wahlström4Anje Christina Höper5Hans Pettersson6Tohr Nilsson7Section of Sustainable Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, SwedenDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, NorwaySection of Sustainable Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, SwedenDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, NorwaySection of Sustainable Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, SwedenDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, NorwaySection of Sustainable Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, SwedenSection of Sustainable Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, SwedenABSTRACTThis cross-sectional study aimed to describe exposure to cold climate and hand-arm vibration (HAV) as well as neurosensory and vascular symptoms and clinical findings among open-pit Arctic miners. It was based on data from questionnaires and physical examinations, including 177 men and 75 women from two open-pit mines in Sweden and Norway (response rate 54%). Working outdoors or in an unheated building or machine for at least two hours per day was reported by 44% and HAV exposure of the same duration by 10%. Neurosensory symptoms (e.g. reduced perception of touch) in the hands were reported by 47% and Raynaud’s phenomenon by 14%. In brief conclusion, the study showed that Arctic miners were commonly exposed to both cold temperatures and HAV. They also reported a broad range of neurosensory and vascular symptoms in their hands and had abnormal clinical findings related to the symptoms. The results emphasise the need for additional preventive measures in this occupational setting.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22423982.2023.2254916Cold climatevibrationminingSwedenNorwayperipheral nervous system diseases |
spellingShingle | Albin Stjernbrandt Magnar Johnsen Ingrid Liljelind Anna Aminoff Jens Wahlström Anje Christina Höper Hans Pettersson Tohr Nilsson Neurosensory and vascular symptoms and clinical findings in the hands of Arctic open-pit miners in Sweden and Norway – a descriptive study International Journal of Circumpolar Health Cold climate vibration mining Sweden Norway peripheral nervous system diseases |
title | Neurosensory and vascular symptoms and clinical findings in the hands of Arctic open-pit miners in Sweden and Norway – a descriptive study |
title_full | Neurosensory and vascular symptoms and clinical findings in the hands of Arctic open-pit miners in Sweden and Norway – a descriptive study |
title_fullStr | Neurosensory and vascular symptoms and clinical findings in the hands of Arctic open-pit miners in Sweden and Norway – a descriptive study |
title_full_unstemmed | Neurosensory and vascular symptoms and clinical findings in the hands of Arctic open-pit miners in Sweden and Norway – a descriptive study |
title_short | Neurosensory and vascular symptoms and clinical findings in the hands of Arctic open-pit miners in Sweden and Norway – a descriptive study |
title_sort | neurosensory and vascular symptoms and clinical findings in the hands of arctic open pit miners in sweden and norway a descriptive study |
topic | Cold climate vibration mining Sweden Norway peripheral nervous system diseases |
url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22423982.2023.2254916 |
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